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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: wax · cabinet · bark · firm · tube · calf · snap · rash

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  18. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. firm — decided
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. firm — steady
  6. tube — the underground
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. firm — a company
  13. wax — to grow
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. tube — a container
  17. bark — to shout
  18. snap — to click
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. rash — hasty
  23. bark — of a tree
  24. tube — in a tire

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