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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: safe · net · march · bound · wax · foot · dip · wave

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. foot — a measure
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. wax — to grow
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. march — the month
  9. net — in sport
  10. bound — tied together
  11. net — for catching
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. net — after costs
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. march — music
  17. wave — with your hand
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. march — the month
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. dip — to sink
  23. bound — obliged
  24. wave — of the sea

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