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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
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: mouse · arm · ruler · tube · current · date · spell · bear

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. My father caught me by the ________________.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  21. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  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. current — of water
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. spell — letters
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. spell — a short time
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. current — electric
  10. current — happening now
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. arm — a part of something
  15. tube — a container
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. date — the fruit
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bear — the animal
  22. tube — the underground
  23. spell — magic
  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