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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: court · bulb · tube · mark · current · wax · mug · charge

  1. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  2. The ball is in your ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. wax — in the ear
  2. court — for sport
  3. mark — a trace
  4. tube — a container
  5. current — happening now
  6. court — of a king
  7. court — of law
  8. mug — a face
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. tube — the underground
  13. charge — in control
  14. wax — for sculpting
  15. current — of water
  16. mug — to rob
  17. wax — to grow
  18. bulb — for light
  19. current — electric
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. bulb — for light
  22. charge — a price
  23. mark — a grade
  24. charge — electricity

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