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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: bulb · spring · charge · cap · bowl · calf · pass · wax

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  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. calf — a young animal
  2. charge — in control
  3. spring — the season
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. charge — a price
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. wax — to grow
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. cap — a hat
  11. bulb — for light
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. charge — electricity
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. cap — of ice
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. bulb — for light
  18. spring — a coil
  19. spring — of water
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. cap — a lid
  22. pass — a permit
  23. pass — to spend time
  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