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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.

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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: pit · bulb · wax · calf · bound · club · spell · present

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. bound — certain
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. present — there
  6. bulb — for light
  7. spell — magic
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. club — a group
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. club — for dancing
  12. bound — tied together
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. spell — a short time
  15. bulb — for light
  16. spell — letters
  17. present — the time now
  18. pit — a hole
  19. wax — to grow
  20. pit — in a race
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. bound — obliged
  23. club — for golf
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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