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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: net · coach · wax · chip · track · cap · root · calf

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. chip — to eat
  3. net — after costs
  4. track — to keep track
  5. root — the cause
  6. track — a path
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. cap — a hat
  9. chip — for betting
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. root — of a word
  12. net — for catching
  13. track — a song
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. cap — of ice
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. net — in sport
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. wax — to grow
  21. cap — a lid
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. root — of a plant
  24. calf — a young animal

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