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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 120 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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  4. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. rest — what's left
  3. wake — a trail
  4. firm — steady
  5. rest — a break
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. current — happening now
  8. current — of water
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. wake — before a funeral
  11. firm — a company
  12. rash — hasty
  13. firm — decided
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. rash — a series
  16. rush — hurry
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. rest — what's left
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. perch — the fish

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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