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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.

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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: bass · wax · coach · bore · tear · staff · jam · current

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. current — happening now
  3. bore — to drill
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bass — low music
  6. current — of water
  7. jam — in traffic
  8. staff — employees
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — a stick
  11. wax — to grow
  12. tear — from crying
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. current — electric
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. tear — from crying
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. bore — to tire
  20. bass — the fish
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. tear — to rip

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