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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: current · mark · squash · hand · fan · mouse · plane · mug

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. mark — a trace
  4. squash — to crush
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. squash — the vegetable
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mug — to rob
  9. squash — the sport
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. current — of water
  12. mark — a grade
  13. hand — help
  14. current — electric
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. hand — in cards
  19. current — happening now
  20. plane — a tool
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. mug — a face
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. mug — a cup

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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