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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: degree · calf · wax · lie · craft · root · rock · game

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  11. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  12. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  13. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. wax — to grow
  3. root — of a word
  4. root — the cause
  5. craft — a handicraft
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. root — of a plant
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. craft — a skill
  11. degree — from a university
  12. degree — temperature
  13. degree — an amount
  14. game — wild animals
  15. rock — music
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. rock — a stone
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. craft — boats
  24. game — a match

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