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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.

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: charge · wax · leaves · mug · object · staff · pass · current

  1. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. object — to protest
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. current — happening now
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. object — a thing
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. current — electric
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. wax — to grow
  10. mug — to rob
  11. object — an aim
  12. mug — a face
  13. staff — a stick
  14. charge — electricity
  15. mug — a cup
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. staff — employees
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. charge — in control
  20. current — of water
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. charge — a price
  23. pass — a permit
  24. staff — employees

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