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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: mark · current · wake · leaves · coach · mouse

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mark — a trace
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. current — electric
  5. current — happening now
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. current — of water
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. mark — a grade
  12. wake — a trail
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. mark — to pay attention

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