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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. rest — what's left
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. current — of water
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. rest — a break
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. vault — a safe
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. rest — what's left
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. vault — in gymnastics
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. current — electric
  19. wax — to grow
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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