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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: board · coach · bear · file · mouse · wax · current · arm

  1. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. file — a document
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. bear — the animal
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. board — to get on
  9. wax — to grow
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. file — a tool
  12. current — electric
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. current — happening now
  17. file — a line of people
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. board — a committee
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bear — the animal
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. current — of water
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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