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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 116 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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. My mare is ________________ in color.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rest — what's left
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. current — of water
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. rest — what's left
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. hand — help
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. calf — a young animal
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. hand — in cards
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bay — a horse colour
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. current — happening now
  22. sharp — clever
  23. wax — to grow
  24. rest — a break

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