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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.

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: drill · racket · date · wax · can · fine · current · ground

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. can — a tin
  3. current — happening now
  4. drill — army training
  5. ground — the earth
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. date — the fruit
  8. can — to be able to
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. fine — all right
  11. current — of water
  12. fine — high quality
  13. wax — to grow
  14. drill — the tool
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. drill — a practice
  17. can — a tin
  18. wax — in the ear
  19. ground — crushed
  20. wax — for sculpting
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. racket — for tennis
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. ground — a position

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