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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. band — a ring
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. track — a song
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. track — to keep track
  8. rash — a series
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. rash — hasty
  11. current — happening now
  12. pass — a permit
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. track — a path
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wax — to grow
  23. current — of water
  24. band — a music group

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