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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.

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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 · current · patient · fall · bound · rock · saw · temple

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  18. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. bound — obliged
  3. saw — the tool
  4. current — happening now
  5. bound — certain
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. wax — for sculpting
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. fall — to drop
  10. rock — a stone
  11. current — of water
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. wax — to grow
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. saw — past of 'see'
  18. fall — to drop
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. saw — the tool
  21. bound — tied together
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rock — music
  24. current — electric

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