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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
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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: calf · wound · temple · press · date · root · saw · wax

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  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. press — newspapers
  2. wound — an injury
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. press — a publisher
  6. root — of a plant
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. wound — an injury
  10. date — the fruit
  11. saw — the tool
  12. saw — the tool
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. wax — to grow
  19. root — of a word
  20. press — to push
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. root — the cause
  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