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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: ruler · can · trunk · hand · cap · wave · current · rush

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. can — to be able to
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. current — happening now
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. hand — help
  9. cap — of ice
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. cap — a hat
  13. current — of water
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — a tin
  17. cap — a lid
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. current — electric
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. rush — hurry

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