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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: file · stem · saw · safe · wax · net · roll · sharp

  1. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. stem — a stem cell
  2. saw — the tool
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. sharp — clever
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. file — a document
  9. saw — the tool
  10. stem — to come from
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. roll — a cake
  13. roll — a list
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. file — a tool
  16. file — a line of people
  17. net — for catching
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. net — in sport
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. wax — to grow
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. net — after costs

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