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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. How do you ________________ your surname?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. tear — from crying
  5. current — of water
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mate — to breed
  8. tear — to rip
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. tear — from crying
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. tube — a container
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. spell — letters
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. tube — the underground
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. current — happening now
  21. mate — a partner
  22. spell — a short time
  23. foot — a measure
  24. spell — magic

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