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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.

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: nail · current · snap · mate · leaves · board · perch · shower

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  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. leaves — lets stay
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. board — to get on
  5. current — of water
  6. mate — a friend
  7. shower — rain
  8. mate — a partner
  9. current — happening now
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. snap — to click
  12. perch — the fish
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. mate — to breed
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. board — a committee
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. current — electric
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  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