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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.

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: mouse · fine · fan · current · file · wax · drill · press

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. Did you ________________ the button?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. press — to push
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. wax — to grow
  6. drill — army training
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. press — a publisher
  9. file — a line of people
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. drill — the tool
  13. fine — all right
  14. file — a tool
  15. fine — high quality
  16. current — of water
  17. press — newspapers
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. drill — a practice
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. current — happening now
  23. current — electric
  24. mouse — the animal

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