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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 · pass · clip · wax · stick · charge · bear · rock

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bear — the animal
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. charge — in control
  5. current — electric
  6. rock — music
  7. wax — to grow
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. pass — a permit
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. current — of water
  14. clip — for paper
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. charge — electricity
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. current — happening now
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. clip — a video
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. clip — to cut
  23. charge — a price
  24. rock — a stone

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