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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: current · wax · calf · hide · pit · mug · toast · field

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. field — for sport
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. pit — in a race
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. pit — a hole
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. current — electric
  15. mug — a cup
  16. toast — bread
  17. wax — to grow
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. current — happening now
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mug — a face
  22. field — a subject
  23. field — farmland
  24. toast — the most admired

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