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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. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. Have you settled on a ________________?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. date — the fruit
  5. current — electric
  6. degree — from a university
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. current — happening now
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. pass — a permit
  12. rock — music
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. degree — an amount
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. rock — a stone
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. current — of water
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. degree — temperature

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