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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: current · ball · fan · game · toast · wax · fine · stem

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. That was a fun ________________.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. current — electric
  4. current — of water
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. ball — a great time
  9. fine — all right
  10. stem — to come from
  11. ball — a dance
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. game — a match
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. wax — to grow
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. fine — high quality
  20. toast — bread
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. game — wild animals

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