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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. current — happening now
  3. staff — employees
  4. current — of water
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. staff — a stick
  10. wax — in the ear
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. ball — a great time
  14. staff — employees
  15. can — a tin
  16. ball — a dance
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. pass — a permit
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. wax — to grow
  23. current — electric
  24. stem — to come from

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