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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: bay · charge · bowl · wave · bulb · key · calf · wax

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The tickets are free of ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. charge — a price
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. bulb — for light
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bulb — for light
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. wave — a sudden rise
  10. wax — to grow
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. charge — in control
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. bay — to keep at bay
  16. key — the most important part
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. charge — electricity
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. key — for a lock

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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