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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
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: date · current · rock · wax · jam · deal · perch · hide

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. date — the fruit
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. rock — a stone
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. current — happening now
  15. wax — in the ear
  16. deal — to handle
  17. current — of water
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — the fish
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rock — music
  23. current — electric
  24. jam — in traffic

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