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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  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. wake — a trail
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. rest — what's left
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. can — a tin
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. can — to be able to
  12. wax — to grow
  13. rest — a break
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. rest — what's left
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. patient — calm and waiting
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. can — a tin
  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