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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
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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: calf · scale · kick · field · wax · pop · pass · fan

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. kick — in football
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. field — farmland
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pop — to visit
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. scale — for weighing
  12. scale — in music
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. wax — to grow
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. scale — size or range
  19. pop — soda
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. field — a subject
  22. pop — music
  23. pass — a permit
  24. field — for sport

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