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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 · wax · charge · object · march · pass · pitcher · fork

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  16. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  23. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — music
  2. charge — in control
  3. object — a thing
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. current — happening now
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. wax — to grow
  9. current — of water
  10. march — the month
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. fork — to eat with
  14. object — an aim
  15. march — the month
  16. charge — electricity
  17. object — to protest
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. current — electric
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. pass — a permit
  23. fork — in a road
  24. charge — a price

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