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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 · mouse · roll · deal · can · current · saw · coach

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. can — a tin
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. saw — the tool
  5. wax — to grow
  6. current — happening now
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. current — of water
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. deal — to handle
  11. roll — a cake
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. can — a tin
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. saw — the tool
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. can — to be able to
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. current — electric
  23. roll — a list
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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