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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
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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: lie · band · safe · foot · straw · mark · wax · can

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. mark — a trace
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. foot — a measure
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. can — a tin
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. can — to be able to
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. lie — to recline
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. band — a ring
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. mark — a grade
  23. band — a music group
  24. wax — to grow

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