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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. current — happening now
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. current — of water
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. wax — to grow
  15. bass — low music
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. can — a tin
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. can — a tin
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bass — the fish

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