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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: arm · bulb · firm · calf · mate · wax · spring · present

  1. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  2. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — of a plant
  2. present — a gift
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. spring — of water
  7. present — there
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. spring — the season
  10. firm — a company
  11. wax — to grow
  12. mate — a friend
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. present — the time now
  15. bulb — for light
  16. mate — a partner
  17. mate — to breed
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. bulb — for light
  20. firm — steady
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. spring — a coil
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. firm — decided

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