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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 · cabinet · can · bass · rush · calf · pitcher · perch

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bass — low music
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. can — to be able to
  13. perch — the fish
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bass — the fish
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — a tin
  24. wax — to grow

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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