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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: stem · can · mouse · clip · current · ruler · sharp · branch

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. current — of water
  8. clip — to cut
  9. stem — to come from
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. branch — a division
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. clip — for paper
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. current — electric
  16. can — a tin
  17. current — happening now
  18. can — to be able to
  19. can — a tin
  20. clip — a video
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. sharp — clever
  24. sharp — with an edge

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