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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. The tickets are free of ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. David sat on the ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. current — happening now
  3. wound — past of 'wind'
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. current — of water
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. ball — a dance
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. current — electric
  11. charge — a price
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. charge — electricity
  14. wound — an injury
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. swing — to play on
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. wound — an injury
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. ball — a great time
  22. charge — in control
  23. swing — in golf
  24. swing — music

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