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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.

Make a worksheet

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: wax · mark · trunk · arm · current · row · bay · cabinet

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. mark — a grade
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. row — to paddle
  7. current — happening now
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. wax — to grow
  10. mark — a trace
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. row — a line
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. current — of water
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. trunk — of a car
  21. current — electric
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bay — a horse colour

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