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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. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  6. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. current — of water
  4. squash — the sport
  5. face — part of the head
  6. face — to confront
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. current — happening now
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. current — electric
  14. scale — size or range
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. face — to point toward
  18. scale — in music
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. squash — to crush
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. date — the fruit
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. temple — a place of worship

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