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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.

Make a worksheet

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: patient · leaves · calf · wax · track · cap · bay · bulb

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  3. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  24. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. patient — calm and waiting
  3. bay — a part of the sea
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. wax — to grow
  8. bulb — for light
  9. cap — a lid
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. bulb — for light
  17. track — a path
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. track — a song
  20. cap — of ice
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. track — to keep track
  23. cap — a hat
  24. patient — a sick person

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