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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.

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 · stick · pitcher · key · content · stand · wax · bark

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  4. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  19. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. content — videos and posts
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. content — the amount
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. content — happy
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. stand — to bear
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bark — of a tree
  19. bark — to shout
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. wax — to grow
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. key — for a lock

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