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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: current · mine · foot · wave · mate · rush · club · mug

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  11. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. club — a group
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. foot — a measure
  5. current — electric
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. mate — a friend
  8. rush — hurry
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. wave — a sudden rise
  11. club — for dancing
  12. mug — to rob
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. mate — to breed
  15. mug — a face
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. mate — a partner
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. current — happening now
  20. mine — for digging
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. current — of water
  23. club — for golf
  24. rush — a thrill

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