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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. date — the fruit
  4. rest — what's left
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. branch — a division
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. current — of water
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. rest — what's left
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. rest — a break
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. current — electric
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. lash — to lash out

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