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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. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. wax — to grow
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. current — electric
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. current — happening now
  11. firm — steady
  12. suit — in cards
  13. firm — decided
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — a tool
  16. suit — clothes
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. current — of water
  19. suit — to fit
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. rush — hurry

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