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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 120 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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. I can't ________________ this cold.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. current — happening now
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. prune — to trim
  5. rock — a stone
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. current — of water
  8. pass — a permit
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. stand — to bear
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. pass — to succeed
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. current — electric
  16. rock — music
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. bat — for baseball
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. bat — the animal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. bat — in an idiom
  24. prune — to trim

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