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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 · rock · wax · patient · lash · deal · leaves · degree

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  16. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. wax — to grow
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — a stone
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. degree — an amount
  16. degree — from a university
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. deal — to handle
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. degree — temperature

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