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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.

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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: leaves · mug · wax · saw · bat · suit · calf · bear

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. mug — a cup
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mug — a face
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bat — for baseball
  10. bear — the animal
  11. suit — clothes
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — to grow
  16. bat — in an idiom
  17. saw — the tool
  18. mug — to rob
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bat — the animal
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. wax — in the ear

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