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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. current — electric
  3. rock — a stone
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. net — in sport
  6. wax — to grow
  7. rock — music
  8. current — happening now
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. net — after costs
  15. wake — a trail
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. vault — a safe
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. vault — an arched ceiling
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. current — of water
  24. leaves — to go away

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