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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: date · rash · net · stock · mug · current · present · wax

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  14. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. current — of water
  3. wax — in the ear
  4. present — there
  5. current — electric
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. current — happening now
  8. date — the fruit
  9. wax — for sculpting
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — to rob
  12. net — in sport
  13. wax — to grow
  14. stock — goods
  15. rash — a series
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. present — the time now
  19. mug — a face
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. net — after costs
  22. present — a gift
  23. stock — shares
  24. rash — hasty

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