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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: field · wax · current · arm · mate · board · fine · pit

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  13. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. fine — all right
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. pit — in a race
  5. mate — a friend
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. mate — to breed
  8. current — of water
  9. pit — a hole
  10. board — to get on
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. field — for sport
  13. field — farmland
  14. fine — high quality
  15. current — happening now
  16. field — a subject
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. mate — a partner
  19. board — a committee
  20. current — electric
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. wax — to grow
  24. arm — part of the body

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