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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
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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: coach · calf · wax · fan · safe · pass · key · date

  1. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. key — for a lock
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. key — the most important part
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. wax — to grow
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. key — in music
  21. date — the fruit
  22. pass — a permit
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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