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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: current · mouse · rush · sharp · march · pitcher · plane · spell

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The ________________ took off on time.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. spell — a short time
  3. march — the month
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. current — of water
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. march — the month
  11. sharp — clever
  12. plane — an aircraft
  13. current — happening now
  14. spell — letters
  15. march — music
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. current — electric
  19. spell — magic
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rush — hurry
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pitcher — a jug

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