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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 120 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: present · mine · bound · charge · calf · wax · scale · perch

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. present — there
  3. charge — in control
  4. scale — size or range
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. charge — a price
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. present — the time now
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. bound — tied together
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. perch — the fish
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. present — a gift
  19. charge — electricity
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. scale — in music
  22. bound — certain
  23. bound — obliged
  24. mine — for digging

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