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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. current — of water
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. current — electric
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. bass — low music
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. current — happening now
  14. spring — of water
  15. spring — the season
  16. bass — the fish
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. scale — in music
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. spring — a coil
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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