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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: lean · hand · wax · safe · key · perch · bound · rock

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  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. lean — thin
  2. bound — obliged
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. key — in music
  5. wax — to grow
  6. bound — certain
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. lean — to rest against
  9. hand — in cards
  10. perch — the fish
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. key — for a lock
  15. bound — tied together
  16. lean — to bend
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. rock — a stone
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. hand — help
  22. key — the most important part
  23. rock — music
  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