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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: safe · bound · row · arm · cabinet · can · wax · trunk

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. can — to be able to
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. bound — obliged
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bound — certain
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. can — a tin
  16. row — to paddle
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bound — tied together
  20. row — a line
  21. can — a tin
  22. trunk — of an elephant
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. wax — to grow

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com