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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: can · wave · mate · current · mug · sharp · rush · leaves

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. rush — hurry
  3. mate — a friend
  4. current — electric
  5. current — of water
  6. mate — to breed
  7. mug — a face
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. current — happening now
  10. wave — of the sea
  11. mate — a partner
  12. sharp — clever
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. can — to be able to
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. can — a tin
  17. mug — to rob
  18. mug — a cup
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. leaves — to go away

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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