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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. There's no middle ________________.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  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. temple — side of the head
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. foot — a measure
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. arm — a part of something
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. ground — the earth
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. current — of water
  11. roll — a cake
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. bulb — for light
  14. bulb — for light
  15. ground — a position
  16. march — music
  17. ground — crushed
  18. current — electric
  19. current — happening now
  20. march — the month
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. march — the month
  23. roll — a list
  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