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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.

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: pitcher · current · mouse · fan · mate · row · squash · rash

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mate — a partner
  3. row — to paddle
  4. rash — a series
  5. squash — to crush
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. current — electric
  9. mate — to breed
  10. current — of water
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. rash — hasty
  18. squash — the sport
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. row — a line
  21. mate — a friend
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. current — happening now
  24. squash — the vegetable

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