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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 · track · lie · pit · wax · lash · can · fork

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. lie — to recline
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. can — to be able to
  6. current — happening now
  7. track — a path
  8. can — a tin
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. pit — a hole
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. fork — to eat with
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. track — to keep track
  16. wax — to grow
  17. track — a song
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. can — a tin
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. fork — in a road
  22. current — electric
  23. pit — in a race
  24. current — of water

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