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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. current — of water
  4. current — happening now
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bank — for money
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rest — what's left
  10. rest — a break
  11. wax — in the ear
  12. face — to point toward
  13. bank — for money
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. face — to confront
  17. wax — to grow
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. bank — of a river
  20. face — part of the head
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. mine — for digging
  23. current — electric
  24. wax — for sculpting

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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