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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: wax · safe · vault · cabinet · calf · cue · scale · spell

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. spell — letters
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. spell — a short time
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. scale — size or range
  12. cue — a signal
  13. wax — to grow
  14. spell — magic
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. scale — in music
  17. vault — a safe
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. cue — a hint
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. scale — for weighing
  24. cue — for pool

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