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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: mouse · ruler · mark · band · current · hide · fan · content

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. current — electric
  3. content — happy
  4. content — the amount
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. current — happening now
  9. current — of water
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. band — a music group
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. mark — a grade
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. band — a ring
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. mark — a trace

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