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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
468
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: toast · wax · bowl · wake · rock · foot · season · safe

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. wax — to grow
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. wake — a trail
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. rock — music
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. toast — bread
  15. season — of the year
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. rock — a stone
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. foot — a measure
  24. rock — to move gently

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