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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.

Make a worksheet

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: current · chair · nail · fine · mark · root · wave · wax

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. root — of a plant
  3. mark — a grade
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. current — happening now
  6. wax — for sculpting
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — high quality
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. root — of a word
  12. current — of water
  13. wax — to grow
  14. root — the cause
  15. chair — a professorship
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. chair — a leader
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. current — electric
  24. nail — on a finger

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