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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.

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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: hide · cell · current · wax · nail · ball · mine · can

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. He was locked up in a ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. cell — a phone
  3. ball — a great time
  4. cell — in a prison
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. current — electric
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. can — a tin
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. current — of water
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. wax — in the ear
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. ball — a dance
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. wax — for sculpting
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wax — to grow
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. mine — for digging
  24. current — happening now

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