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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: jam · safe · face · bore · calf · wax · pass · spell

  1. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. spell — letters
  4. bore — to tire
  5. wax — to grow
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. face — part of the head
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. pass — a permit
  13. calf — of the leg
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. spell — a short time
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bore — to drill
  21. face — to confront
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. spell — magic

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