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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: current · pass · lean · wax · calf · board · bound · mouse

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. board — to get on
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. wax — to grow
  5. bound — obliged
  6. current — happening now
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. lean — thin
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. current — of water
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. board — a committee
  16. bound — tied together
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bound — certain
  22. lean — to bend
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pass — to spend time

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