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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: tube · wax · chip · craft · stem · key · current · drill

  1. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  13. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.

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

Answer key

  1. wax — to grow
  2. drill — the tool
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. chip — for betting
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. key — in music
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. tube — the underground
  10. chip — to eat
  11. key — the most important part
  12. craft — boats
  13. stem — of a plant
  14. current — electric
  15. drill — a practice
  16. key — for a lock
  17. current — of water
  18. tube — a container
  19. drill — army training
  20. current — happening now
  21. craft — a handicraft
  22. stem — to come from
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. craft — a skill

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