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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. date — the fruit
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. current — happening now
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. deal — to handle
  9. bat — the animal
  10. charge — in control
  11. current — electric
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bat — for baseball
  14. charge — a price
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. bat — in an idiom
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. current — of water
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. charge — electricity
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. temple — a place of worship

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