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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. ground — the earth
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. bore — to tire
  6. tube — the underground
  7. ground — crushed
  8. present — a gift
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. present — there
  13. current — of water
  14. wax — to grow
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. tube — a container
  17. ground — a position
  18. current — electric
  19. current — happening now
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. rush — hurry
  23. bore — to drill
  24. wax — in the ear

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