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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: wax · can · calf · bear · sharp · staff · mouse · file

  1. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a line of people
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. staff — employees
  5. wax — in the ear
  6. can — a tin
  7. wax — to grow
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. can — a tin
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. sharp — clever
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. file — a tool
  16. file — a document
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. can — to be able to
  20. staff — a stick
  21. staff — employees
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — to put up with
  24. bear — the 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