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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: mouse · bore · chest · coach · fan · drill · current · root

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  5. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  15. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. drill — a practice
  4. chest — of your body
  5. root — of a word
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. root — the cause
  9. current — of water
  10. bore — to tire
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bore — to drill
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. chest — a box
  15. chest — of your body
  16. drill — the tool
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. drill — army training
  19. current — electric
  20. current — happening now
  21. root — of a plant
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. fan — a supporter

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