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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: current · club · jam · perch · stand · mug · track · wax

  1. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — for a bird
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. track — a path
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. mug — to rob
  6. perch — the fish
  7. stand — for spectators
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. mug — a cup
  10. club — a group
  11. current — electric
  12. club — for dancing
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. current — happening now
  15. wax — to grow
  16. current — of water
  17. track — a song
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. track — to keep track
  20. stand — to bear
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. mug — a face
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. club — for golf

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