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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: trunk · arm · current · plane · mouse · mug · game · rush

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  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. arm — a part of something
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. current — happening now
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. game — a match
  7. current — of water
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. plane — in geometry
  11. rush — hurry
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. mug — a face
  14. mug — a cup
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. plane — a tool
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. game — wild animals
  19. current — electric
  20. mug — to rob
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. trunk — of a car
  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