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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.

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: fan · current · mouse · rule · net · fine · leaves · lie

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. current — electric
  4. net — in sport
  5. rule — a law
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. lie — to recline
  8. rule — to rule out
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. fine — high quality
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. net — after costs
  13. fine — all right
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rule — government
  18. net — for catching
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. current — of water
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. lie — an untruth

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