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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.

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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: wax · wake · calf · degree · dip · mouse · rest · deal

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  12. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. dip — to sink
  3. rest — what's left
  4. rest — a break
  5. degree — from a university
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. wake — to stop sleeping
  12. degree — an amount
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. degree — temperature
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. wax — to grow
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. deal — to handle
  23. wake — a trail
  24. mouse — for a computer

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