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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 116 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: rock · wound · rush · straw · fan · current · wax · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. current — electric
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. rush — hurry
  8. wound — an injury
  9. current — of water
  10. rock — a stone
  11. wound — an injury
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. current — happening now
  16. wax — to grow
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. rock — music
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. safe — out of danger

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