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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. current — of water
  4. scale — in music
  5. bore — to tire
  6. date — the fruit
  7. content — happy
  8. current — electric
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. current — happening now
  14. cap — of ice
  15. bore — gave birth
  16. bore — to drill
  17. cap — a hat
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. content — the amount
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. cap — a lid

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