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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: scale · wax · jam · mate · craft · calf · pit · foot

  1. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. craft — boats
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. pit — a hole
  5. mate — to breed
  6. mate — a partner
  7. wax — to grow
  8. pit — in a race
  9. scale — size or range
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. foot — a measure
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. craft — a skill
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mate — a friend
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. scale — in music

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