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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
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 · bore · deal · calf · patient · perch · wax · saw

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  21. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bore — to drill
  5. perch — the fish
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. bore — to tire
  11. roll — a list
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. wax — to grow
  15. saw — the tool
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. roll — a cake
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. deal — to handle
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. saw — the tool
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. deal — an agreement

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