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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. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. fork — in a road
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mate — a friend
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. current — electric
  7. mate — a partner
  8. track — a path
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. current — happening now
  13. track — to keep track
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. stem — to come from
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. track — a song
  19. mate — to breed
  20. hand — help
  21. current — of water
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. hand — in cards
  24. ruler — for measuring

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