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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 · leaves · file · pitcher · current · wax · lie · key

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. file — a tool
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. current — happening now
  6. file — a document
  7. wax — to grow
  8. key — for a lock
  9. lie — to recline
  10. key — in music
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. file — a line of people
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. key — the most important part
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. current — of water
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. current — electric
  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