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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.

Make a worksheet

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: prune · saw · rock · present · wax · current · cell · hide

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. He was locked up in a ________________.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  21. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. current — electric
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. prune — to trim
  5. current — happening now
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. cell — in a prison
  8. saw — the tool
  9. present — the time now
  10. cell — in biology
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. present — a gift
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. wax — to grow
  18. present — there
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. prune — to trim
  21. cell — a phone
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. rock — music
  24. current — of water

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