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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. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. spring — the season
  7. charge — in control
  8. mug — a cup
  9. current — of water
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. dip — to sink
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. current — electric
  16. charge — a price
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mug — to rob
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. mug — a face
  21. charge — electricity
  22. rush — hurry
  23. spring — a coil
  24. spring — of water

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