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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 120 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. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  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. bay — a part of the sea
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. pop — soda
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pop — music
  11. pop — to visit
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. wax — to grow
  18. wave — with your hand
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. calf — of the leg
  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