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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: staff · sharp · wax · calf · cap · pass · face · root

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  7. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. pass — a permit
  6. cap — a lid
  7. sharp — with an edge
  8. sharp — clever
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. root — of a plant
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. staff — a stick
  13. cap — of ice
  14. face — to point toward
  15. root — of a word
  16. staff — employees
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. wax — to grow
  20. root — the cause
  21. face — part of the head
  22. face — to confront
  23. staff — employees
  24. cap — a hat

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