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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — before a funeral
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. face — to point toward
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. drill — army training
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. face — to confront
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. face — part of the head
  11. pound — a weight
  12. drill — the tool
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. wake — a trail
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wax — for sculpting
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. pound — for dogs
  20. drill — a practice
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. wax — to grow
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. fan — a supporter

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