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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: band · calf · hide · board · pass · bear · wax · leaves

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. bear — the animal
  3. band — a ring
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. pass — a permit
  14. wax — to grow
  15. board — to get on
  16. band — a rubber band
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bear — the animal
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. board — a committee
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. board — a flat piece

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