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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
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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: wax · toast · cabinet · sharp · bound · current · row · fine

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. bound — certain
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. toast — the most admired
  7. current — electric
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. toast — bread
  11. row — to paddle
  12. row — a line
  13. current — of water
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. sharp — clever
  16. bound — obliged
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. fine — all right
  19. wax — to grow
  20. fine — high quality
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. row — a quarrel
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bound — tied together

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