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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. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. current — electric
  3. cue — a hint
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. cue — a signal
  9. drill — the tool
  10. drill — a practice
  11. drill — army training
  12. field — for sport
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. wax — to grow
  16. mark — a trace
  17. field — a subject
  18. current — of water
  19. current — happening now
  20. pass — a permit
  21. field — farmland
  22. cue — for pool
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. wax — for sculpting

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