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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: track · current · lash · bear · stem · fork · mate · wax

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. Many English words ________________ from Latin.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. current — happening now
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. mate — a friend
  5. bear — the animal
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. fork — to eat with
  8. mate — to breed
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. bear — the animal
  11. fork — in a road
  12. track — to keep track
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. track — a song
  15. current — of water
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. track — a path
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. wax — for sculpting
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. current — electric
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. wax — to grow
  24. stem — to come from

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