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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: roll · hide · current · calf · bowl · pop · wax · content

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  15. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. You don't need to ________________ round.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. roll — a list
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. roll — a cake
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. pop — soda
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. current — of water
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. content — the amount
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. wax — to grow
  14. wax — in the ear
  15. content — videos and posts
  16. content — happy
  17. current — happening now
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. pop — music
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. pop — to visit
  24. current — electric

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