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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. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. wax — to grow
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. current — of water
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. drill — a practice
  9. band — a music group
  10. stand — to bear
  11. drill — the tool
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. can — a tin
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. band — a ring
  16. can — a tin
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. can — to be able to
  21. current — electric
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. current — happening now

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