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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: current · root · cabinet · pop · mug · last · wax · lie

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. False peace will not ________________.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  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. current — electric
  2. pop — to visit
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. pop — music
  5. pop — soda
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. mug — to rob
  8. root — of a word
  9. root — the cause
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. lie — to recline
  12. wax — to grow
  13. current — happening now
  14. root — of a plant
  15. current — of water
  16. last — finally
  17. mug — a cup
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. mug — a face
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. last — to go on
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. last — final
  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