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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 · stick · row · jam · fan · season · wax · fork

  1. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Did you ________________ the meat?
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. row — to paddle
  5. row — a line
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. fork — in a road
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. fork — to eat with
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. season — of the year
  12. stick — to attach or keep to
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. season — in sport
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. season — to add flavour
  24. safe — out of danger

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