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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.

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: mine · saw · current · cue · leaves · bowl · foot · mouse

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. current — of water
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. current — happening now
  8. foot — a measure
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. cue — for pool
  15. saw — the tool
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. mine — for digging
  19. cue — a signal
  20. current — electric
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. saw — the tool
  24. mine — belonging to me

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