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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
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: ground · safe · pitcher · wax · mark · calf · stick · lash

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. ground — crushed
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. mark — a grade
  10. ground — the earth
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. stick — to attach or keep to
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. ground — a position
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. wax — to grow
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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