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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: coach · wax · net · wake · ball · calf · stand · key

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. net — in sport
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. wake — a trail
  5. net — after costs
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. key — in music
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. stand — to bear
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. key — the most important part
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. ball — a dance
  17. key — for a lock
  18. net — for catching
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. calf — a young animal
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. wax — to grow
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. ball — a great time

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