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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 124 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. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. charge — electricity
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. current — happening now
  6. bear — the animal
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. charge — in control
  9. wax — to grow
  10. charge — a price
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. current — of water
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bear — the animal
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pitch — completely
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. current — electric
  24. safe — out of danger

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