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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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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. current — electric
  3. wax — to grow
  4. can — a tin
  5. staff — employees
  6. rash — a series
  7. board — a committee
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. current — of water
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. can — a tin
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. staff — a stick
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. can — to be able to
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. board — to get on
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. staff — employees
  22. rash — hasty
  23. current — happening now
  24. lie — to recline

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