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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 · current · perch · row · coach · jam · saw · wave

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — of the sea
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. wax — for sculpting
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. row — a line
  10. wax — to grow
  11. row — to paddle
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. saw — past of 'see'
  14. current — happening now
  15. perch — the fish
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. saw — the tool
  19. wax — in the ear
  20. current — electric
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. current — of water
  24. saw — the tool

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