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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: stand · firm · wax · bulb · ball · fan · coach · current

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  3. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  4. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. I can't ________________ this cold.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. wax — for sculpting
  3. ball — a round shape
  4. wax — to grow
  5. firm — decided
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. current — of water
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. ball — a great time
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. bulb — for light
  13. ball — a dance
  14. firm — a company
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. firm — steady
  17. bulb — for light
  18. current — electric
  19. stand — to bear
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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