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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 116 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: wax · calf · fan · charge · cabinet · firm · fall · leaves

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. firm — steady
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. fall — to drop
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. firm — decided
  12. wax — to grow
  13. charge — electricity
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fall — to drop
  21. charge — a price
  22. fall — the season
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. charge — in control

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