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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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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 · staff · firm · calf · saw · hand · rule · fine

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. staff — a stick
  4. firm — steady
  5. wax — to grow
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. staff — employees
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. rule — a law
  14. rule — government
  15. saw — the tool
  16. firm — decided
  17. hand — help
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. fine — all right
  20. staff — employees
  21. hand — in cards
  22. saw — the tool
  23. fine — high quality
  24. firm — a company

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