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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: saw · prune · wax · fine · row · cabinet · foot · calf

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. A ________________ is just a dried plum.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. prune — to trim
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. fine — all right
  8. foot — a measure
  9. saw — the tool
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. wax — to grow
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. row — to paddle
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. fine — high quality
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. prune — to trim
  21. row — a line
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. prune — the fruit

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