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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. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. False peace will not ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. current — electric
  4. mate — a partner
  5. current — of water
  6. kid — child
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. staff — employees
  9. mug — a face
  10. mate — to breed
  11. rush — hurry
  12. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. last — finally
  15. mug — to rob
  16. last — to go on
  17. staff — a stick
  18. current — happening now
  19. kid — to tease
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. staff — employees
  23. mug — a cup
  24. last — final

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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