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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 116 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: bulb · wax · patient · key · cabinet · calf · rash · spell

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. wax — to grow
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. spell — a short time
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. rash — hasty
  10. key — for a lock
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. rash — a series
  13. bulb — for light
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. spell — magic
  20. spell — letters
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. key — in music
  23. key — the most important part
  24. patient — a sick person

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