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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. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. I'll be taking the ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. lean — to bend
  4. rush — hurry
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. current — of water
  8. coach — pulled by horses
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. mark — a grade
  11. current — happening now
  12. lean — thin
  13. present — there
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. present — a gift
  16. mark — a trace
  17. tube — the underground
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. tube — a container
  20. current — electric
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. coach — a trainer
  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