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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. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. The ________________ took off on time.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. race — humankind
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. race — a contest
  4. plane — an aircraft
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. rush — hurry
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. current — happening now
  9. row — to paddle
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. plane — a tool
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. race — the arms race
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. current — electric
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. row — a line
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. current — of water
  24. rush — to hurry

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