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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
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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: snap · wax · charge · object · can · leaves · current · ball

  1. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. current — of water
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. charge — electricity
  6. object — an aim
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. can — a tin
  9. wax — to grow
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. object — a thing
  13. charge — a price
  14. charge — in control
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. object — to protest
  17. current — happening now
  18. can — to be able to
  19. current — electric
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. ball — a dance
  22. snap — to click
  23. can — a tin
  24. wax — for sculpting

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