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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. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. wax — to grow
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. lean — thin
  6. current — electric
  7. board — to get on
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. firm — steady
  10. firm — decided
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. date — the fruit
  15. key — the most important part
  16. key — for a lock
  17. board — a committee
  18. lean — to bend
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. key — in music
  21. current — happening now
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. firm — a company
  24. current — of water

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