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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: roll · calf · wax · root · craft · ball · chair · rock

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. We're on a ________________ here.
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  15. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. wax — to grow
  3. root — the cause
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. root — of a plant
  6. ball — a dance
  7. chair — a leader
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. roll — on a roll
  10. ball — a great time
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. chair — to sit on
  15. craft — a skill
  16. root — of a word
  17. roll — a cake
  18. rock — music
  19. rock — a stone
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. craft — boats
  24. calf — of the leg

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