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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.

Make a worksheet

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: calf · mug · ruler · squash · ball · plane · rest · wax

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. mug — a face
  4. wax — to grow
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. squash — the sport
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. rest — a break
  11. mug — a cup
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. plane — a tool
  15. ball — a dance
  16. rest — what's left
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. squash — to crush
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. rest — what's left
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. mug — to rob
  23. ball — a great time
  24. squash — the vegetable

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