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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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: chip · arm · cue · mouse · fan · temple · current · board

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. current — electric
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. cue — a hint
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. board — a committee
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. cue — a signal
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. chip — to eat
  17. current — happening now
  18. cue — for pool
  19. board — to get on
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. current — of water
  23. chip — for betting
  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