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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
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 · net · file · root · wax · pit · coach · cabinet

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. cabinet — a cupboard
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. root — the cause
  5. wax — to grow
  6. root — of a word
  7. net — for catching
  8. net — after costs
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. file — a document
  11. current — happening now
  12. file — a tool
  13. current — of water
  14. root — of a plant
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. net — in sport
  17. file — a line of people
  18. current — electric
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. pit — a hole
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. pit — in a race

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