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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. bass — low music
  5. bass — the fish
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. current — happening now
  9. saw — the tool
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. current — electric
  12. can — to be able to
  13. rock — a stone
  14. current — of water
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. rock — music
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. pass — a permit
  22. wax — to grow
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bass — the instrument

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