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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
468
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: club · bulb · bay · current · wax · mouse · spring · arm

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. My father caught me by the ________________.
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. club — for dancing
  5. club — a group
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. current — electric
  8. club — for golf
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. bulb — for light
  11. current — of water
  12. spring — a coil
  13. current — happening now
  14. spring — the season
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. wax — to grow
  21. spring — of water
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. wax — in the ear

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