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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. He was locked up in a ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. cell — in a prison
  3. current — of water
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. pass — a permit
  8. lean — thin
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. stand — on your feet
  11. current — happening now
  12. court — of a king
  13. court — for sport
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. current — electric
  17. stand — to bear
  18. court — of law
  19. cell — a phone
  20. lean — to bend
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. nail — for a hammer

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