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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.

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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: wax · charge · rock · can · swing · march · current · ruler

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. rock — a stone
  4. can — a tin
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. charge — a price
  7. can — to be able to
  8. wax — in the ear
  9. current — happening now
  10. march — music
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. swing — in golf
  13. can — a tin
  14. charge — electricity
  15. current — of water
  16. wax — to grow
  17. swing — music
  18. rock — music
  19. march — the month
  20. charge — in control
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. swing — to play on
  24. march — the month

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