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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 120 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. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. mate — to breed
  3. wax — to grow
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. mate — a friend
  6. bulb — for light
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. mate — a partner
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. prune — to trim
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. prune — to trim
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. prune — the fruit
  24. hide — animal skin

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