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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  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. current — electric
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. wax — to grow
  7. current — happening now
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. branch — of a tree
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. branch — a division
  15. rash — hasty
  16. staff — employees
  17. board — a committee
  18. staff — a stick
  19. board — to get on
  20. branch — of a bank
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. staff — employees
  23. rash — a series
  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