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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: roll · stem · current · wax · can · saw · face · squash

  1. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  15. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  16. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.

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

Answer key

  1. stem — of a plant
  2. can — a tin
  3. stem — to come from
  4. face — part of the head
  5. current — of water
  6. current — happening now
  7. squash — the sport
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. can — to be able to
  11. face — to point toward
  12. roll — a list
  13. saw — the tool
  14. squash — to crush
  15. roll — a cake
  16. wax — to grow
  17. can — a tin
  18. current — electric
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. stem — a stem cell
  23. face — to confront
  24. wax — for sculpting

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