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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: wax · fan · calf · board · staff · pit · current · mark

  1. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  2. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — for sculpting
  2. wax — in the ear
  3. pit — in a race
  4. staff — employees
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. board — a committee
  9. board — to get on
  10. current — electric
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. current — of water
  14. staff — employees
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. wax — to grow
  17. current — happening now
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. staff — a stick
  20. pit — a hole
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. mark — a trace
  24. board — a flat piece

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