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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mouse · ground · current · fine · fan · wax · bound · stand

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. ground — crushed
  3. ground — the earth
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. current — of water
  7. bound — obliged
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. current — electric
  10. bound — certain
  11. stand — to bear
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. wax — for sculpting
  18. bound — tied together
  19. current — happening now
  20. ground — a position
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fine — all right
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. fine — high quality

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