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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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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: ball · current · calf · bound · lash · wax · bowl · cap

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. current — of water
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. cap — a hat
  8. current — electric
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bound — tied together
  12. cap — a lid
  13. current — happening now
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bowl — a dish
  16. wax — to grow
  17. bound — obliged
  18. ball — a great time
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. cap — of ice
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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