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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 116 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: bear · degree · branch · safe · ball · calf · wax · pitcher

  1. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  11. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — a young animal
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. calf — of the leg
  4. bear — the animal
  5. wax — to grow
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. degree — temperature
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. branch — of a bank
  11. degree — an amount
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. ball — a dance
  18. branch — a division
  19. bear — the animal
  20. degree — from a university
  21. ball — a great time
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. wax — for sculpting

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