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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Have you settled on a ________________?
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. pop — to visit
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. current — of water
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. date — the fruit
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. toast — bread
  15. board — a committee
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. current — happening now
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. current — electric
  21. board — to get on
  22. pop — music
  23. pop — soda
  24. racket — a loud noise

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