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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: perch · arm · bat · can · nail · safe · wax · bore

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. bore — to drill
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wax — to grow
  7. bat — in an idiom
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bore — to tire
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. can — to be able to
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. can — a tin
  16. bat — the animal
  17. perch — the fish
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. can — a tin
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. wax — for sculpting

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