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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: calf · coach · rock · lie · wax · cell · key · mug

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. He was locked up in a ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. lie — to recline
  3. cell — in a prison
  4. mug — a face
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — music
  8. wax — to grow
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. key — for a lock
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. key — the most important part
  13. cell — in biology
  14. mug — to rob
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. key — in music
  19. cell — a phone
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. mug — a cup

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