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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: bore · calf · plane · fan · bear · mouse · wax · firm

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. firm — steady
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bear — the animal
  6. wax — to grow
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. plane — a tool
  10. bore — to tire
  11. firm — a company
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. bore — to drill
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. bear — the animal
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. firm — decided
  24. fan — a supporter

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