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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  10. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. bear — the animal
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. current — electric
  6. prune — to trim
  7. current — happening now
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. firm — a company
  10. leaves — to go away
  11. firm — decided
  12. rush — hurry
  13. leaves — lets stay
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. current — of water
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. bear — the animal
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. firm — steady
  23. pass — a permit
  24. prune — to trim

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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