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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: bore · trunk · stick · wax · current · bowl · ball · kid

  1. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  16. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. kid — child
  2. bore — to drill
  3. current — happening now
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. stick — to attach or keep to
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. stick — a piece of wood
  8. current — electric
  9. ball — a dance
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. wax — in the ear
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. bore — to tire
  16. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  17. wax — to grow
  18. kid — to tease
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. current — of water
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. ball — a great 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