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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: bay · wax · can · shower · plane · current · staff · deal

  1. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — a meteor shower
  2. shower — rain
  3. plane — a tool
  4. current — of water
  5. staff — employees
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. bay — to keep at bay
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. shower — to wash
  10. current — happening now
  11. can — a tin
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. staff — employees
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. staff — a stick
  20. current — electric
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. can — a tin
  23. deal — to handle
  24. wax — to grow

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