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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: leaves · safe · pitch · can · date · game · bound · wax

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. bound — tied together
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. can — a tin
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. can — to be able to
  12. bound — obliged
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bound — certain
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. game — a match
  17. date — the fruit
  18. game — wild animals
  19. pitch — completely
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. wax — to grow
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. can — a tin

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