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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: fork · wax · current · mug · calf · season · scale · can

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  22. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. can — to be able to
  3. scale — in music
  4. current — of water
  5. scale — size or range
  6. fork — a garden tool
  7. can — a tin
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. current — electric
  10. season — in sport
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. current — happening now
  13. fork — in a road
  14. mug — a face
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. season — of the year
  17. mug — a cup
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. can — a tin
  21. scale — for weighing
  22. calf — a young animal
  23. wax — to grow
  24. mug — to rob

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