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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 116 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.

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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: stand · pitcher · file · mug · calf · mate · wax · can

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. file — a line of people
  3. mug — a cup
  4. can — a tin
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. file — a tool
  7. file — a document
  8. mate — a partner
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. mate — a friend
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. can — to be able to
  16. mug — a face
  17. mug — to rob
  18. wax — to grow
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. stand — to bear
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. mate — to breed
  23. can — a tin
  24. calf — a young animal

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