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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  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. mouse — the animal
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. rock — a stone
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. bass — the fish
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. current — of water
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. shower — to wash
  18. bass — low music
  19. rock — music
  20. shower — rain
  21. current — electric
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. jam — a tight spot
  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