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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 116 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: cap · suit · mate · current · saw · plane · cue · shower

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. He's taking a ________________ right now.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. mate — to breed
  3. current — electric
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cap — a hat
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. shower — rain
  8. cue — for pool
  9. current — of water
  10. current — happening now
  11. shower — a meteor shower
  12. cap — of ice
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. mate — a partner
  15. cue — a signal
  16. mate — a friend
  17. suit — clothes
  18. plane — a tool
  19. suit — to fit
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. suit — in cards
  24. shower — to wash

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