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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. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. current — electric
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. pit — a hole
  9. pass — a permit
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. wax — to grow
  16. band — a music group
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. band — a ring
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. current — happening now
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. pit — in a race

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