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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: can · scale · wax · safe · foot · sharp · pound · spell

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. How do you ________________ your surname?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. scale — in music
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. can — a tin
  5. pound — a weight
  6. can — a tin
  7. wax — to grow
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. spell — a short time
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. can — to be able to
  14. spell — magic
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. sharp — clever
  19. foot — the bottom
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. foot — a measure
  22. spell — letters
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. scale — size or range

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