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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 came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. cue — for pool
  3. current — of water
  4. wax — in the ear
  5. current — electric
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. fork — a garden tool
  11. wax — to grow
  12. ball — a dance
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. cue — a hint
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. ball — a great time
  17. current — happening now
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. rash — a series
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. rash — hasty
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. cue — a signal

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