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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: plane · cap · bore · wax · spell · pass · calf · chip

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. spell — a short time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. spell — letters
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. cap — a lid
  12. spell — magic
  13. cap — of ice
  14. plane — a tool
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bore — to tire
  17. chip — to eat
  18. cap — a hat
  19. chip — for betting
  20. bore — to drill
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — to grow
  24. calf — of the leg

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