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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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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: dip · pitch · can · lean · season · current · wax · temple

  1. Did you ________________ the meat?
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. season — to add flavour
  2. pitch — completely
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. lean — thin
  6. current — happening now
  7. can — a tin
  8. current — electric
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. can — to be able to
  11. season — in sport
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. season — of the year
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. dip — to sink
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. can — a tin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. lean — to bend
  21. wax — to grow
  22. current — of water
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. lean — to rest against

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