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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: arm · cabinet · fan · calf · charge · squash · club · wax

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. charge — in control
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. squash — to crush
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. club — a group
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. club — for golf
  17. squash — the sport
  18. charge — electricity
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. club — for dancing
  21. charge — a price
  22. wax — to grow
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. cabinet — ministers

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