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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: rock · chip · leaves · current · bowl · mate · snap · mouse

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. current — of water
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. current — electric
  5. mate — a friend
  6. rock — a stone
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mate — to breed
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. mate — a partner
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. chip — to eat
  19. current — happening now
  20. chip — for betting
  21. rock — music
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. snap — to click
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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