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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. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. current — of water
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. roll — a list
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. date — the fruit
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. plane — a tool
  16. lie — to recline
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. current — electric
  21. current — happening now
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. roll — a cake

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