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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.

Make a worksheet

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: spell · file · track · wax · safe · foot · toast · hide

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  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. foot — part of the body
  2. wax — to grow
  3. toast — bread
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. file — a tool
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. file — a line of people
  12. track — to keep track
  13. spell — letters
  14. track — a path
  15. file — a document
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. track — a song
  19. spell — a short time
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. foot — a measure
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. spell — magic
  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