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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: date · calf · fine · wake · roll · capital · wave · sharp

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  12. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. roll — a list
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. wake — to stop sleeping
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. wave — of the sea
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. wave — with your hand
  12. capital — a big letter
  13. capital — a city
  14. roll — a cake
  15. date — the fruit
  16. fine — high quality
  17. sharp — clever
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. fine — all right
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. capital — money

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