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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 · spell · wax · ball · mug · temple · bound · roll

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. We're on a ________________ here.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. current — happening now
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. ball — a great time
  5. mug — to rob
  6. wax — to grow
  7. spell — letters
  8. bound — tied together
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. spell — a short time
  11. roll — a cake
  12. mug — a cup
  13. roll — a list
  14. spell — magic
  15. bound — obliged
  16. bound — certain
  17. ball — a dance
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. roll — on a roll
  20. current — electric
  21. current — of water
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. mug — a face
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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