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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. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. branch — of a tree
  3. march — the month
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. march — the month
  6. charge — in control
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. board — to get on
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. charge — electricity
  11. march — music
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. current — of water
  14. ball — a great time
  15. branch — a division
  16. current — happening now
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. current — electric
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. wax — to grow
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. ball — a dance
  23. board — a committee
  24. charge — a price

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