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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: saw · calf · spell · pitcher · wax · kick · deal · ball

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. saw — the tool
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. spell — magic
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. spell — letters
  14. ball — a great time
  15. saw — the tool
  16. deal — to handle
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. kick — in football
  20. wax — to grow
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. ball — a dance

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