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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. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. current — happening now
  3. deal — to handle
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. bound — obliged
  7. root — the cause
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. bound — certain
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. root — of a word
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. band — a music group
  17. band — a ring
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. current — of water
  20. bound — tied together
  21. plane — a tool
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. band — a rubber band
  24. root — of a plant

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