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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 120 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: current · stem · mug · nail · lean · cue · leaves · mouse

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. current — happening now
  3. mug — a face
  4. cue — for pool
  5. lean — to bend
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. current — electric
  9. current — of water
  10. mug — a cup
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. cue — a hint
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. lean — thin
  18. stem — to come from
  19. leaves — lets stay
  20. mug — to rob
  21. cue — a signal
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. leaves — of a tree
  24. mouse — the animal

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