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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.

Make a worksheet

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: bulb · lie · dip · calf · court · wax · foot · safe

  1. The ball is in your ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. court — for sport
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. court — of a king
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. foot — a measure
  9. bulb — for light
  10. lie — to recline
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. bulb — for light
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. court — of law
  21. wax — to grow
  22. dip — to sink
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. lie — an untruth

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