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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. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  15. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  16. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. bound — obliged
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. wax — to grow
  9. roll — a cake
  10. bound — certain
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. mark — a trace
  14. roll — a list
  15. date — the fruit
  16. wave — of the sea
  17. current — of water
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. pit — a hole
  20. current — electric
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. current — happening now
  23. mark — a grade
  24. bound — tied together

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