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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 116 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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. rest — what's left
  5. rest — a break
  6. staff — employees
  7. shower — to wash
  8. current — of water
  9. lie — to recline
  10. wax — to grow
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. staff — a stick
  13. current — happening now
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. shower — rain
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. staff — employees
  20. charge — electricity
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. charge — a price
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. charge — in control

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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