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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: suit · wax · present · firm · pit · key · current · ruler

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. firm — a company
  3. current — of water
  4. key — the most important part
  5. key — for a lock
  6. current — happening now
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. suit — clothes
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. key — in music
  11. pit — in a race
  12. firm — decided
  13. suit — in cards
  14. wax — to grow
  15. pit — a hole
  16. suit — to fit
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. firm — steady
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. current — electric
  22. wax — for sculpting
  23. present — there
  24. present — the time now

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