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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 120 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 · ground · hide · coach · cue · present · current · temple

  1. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — crushed
  2. current — of water
  3. current — electric
  4. cue — a signal
  5. current — happening now
  6. present — the time now
  7. cue — a hint
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. present — a gift
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. ground — a position
  13. present — there
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. wax — to grow
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. cue — for pool
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. ground — the earth

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