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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. I can't ________________ this cold.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — to bear
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. tear — from crying
  4. face — part of the head
  5. chip — to eat
  6. bank — for money
  7. current — of water
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. roll — a cake
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. face — to point toward
  13. current — happening now
  14. tear — to rip
  15. face — to confront
  16. bank — for money
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. bank — of a river
  20. chip — for betting
  21. roll — a list
  22. tear — from crying
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. current — electric

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