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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: bay · wax · charge · stock · rest · patient · calf · current

  1. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — a break
  2. current — happening now
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. rest — what's left
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. stock — shares
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. patient — calm and waiting
  12. current — of water
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. charge — a price
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. charge — electricity
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. rest — what's left
  20. current — electric
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. stock — goods
  23. charge — in control
  24. wax — for sculpting

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