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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: bound · suit · present · march · current · bay · wax · lash

  1. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — a gift
  2. suit — clothes
  3. current — of water
  4. present — there
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. bay — a part of the sea
  7. bound — obliged
  8. march — music
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. present — the time now
  12. bound — tied together
  13. current — electric
  14. march — the month
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. suit — in cards
  18. suit — to fit
  19. march — the month
  20. current — happening now
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. bound — certain
  23. wax — to grow
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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