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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · hand · chip · roll · can · track · wax · rush

  1. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a path
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. track — a song
  4. can — a tin
  5. wax — to grow
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. rush — hurry
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. hand — in cards
  11. chip — to eat
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. roll — a cake
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. hand — help
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. chip — for betting
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. roll — a list
  24. track — to keep track

Multiple-meaning words list

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

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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