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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 120 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: calf · wax · bound · perch · bat · stand · craft · cabinet

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. bound — certain
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. craft — a skill
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. bat — the animal
  9. wax — to grow
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. perch — the fish
  12. craft — boats
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. wax — for sculpting
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. bound — tied together
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. stand — to bear
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. craft — a handicraft

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