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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: toast · mug · sharp · racket · present · can · wax · calf

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. mug — to rob
  6. present — the time now
  7. can — to be able to
  8. present — a gift
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. wax — to grow
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. can — a tin
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. can — a tin
  17. toast — the most admired
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. sharp — clever
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. mug — a cup
  23. toast — bread
  24. mug — a face

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