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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. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. rest — what's left
  4. spell — a short time
  5. can — a tin
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. rest — what's left
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. spell — magic
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. row — a line
  13. rest — a break
  14. row — to paddle
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. pass — a permit
  18. can — a tin
  19. foot — a measure
  20. current — of water
  21. current — electric
  22. can — to be able to
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. spell — letters

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