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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: rush · mouse · hand · current · pit · foot · nail · land

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. When are we going to ________________?
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  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 — happening now
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. land — to come down
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. current — electric
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. hand — in cards
  10. hand — help
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. foot — a measure
  13. current — of water
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. land — ground
  16. land — a country
  17. pit — in a race
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. rush — hurry
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. pit — a hole
  23. rush — a thrill
  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