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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: perch · bank · temple · cue · track · current · game · face

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. track — a path
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. game — wild animals
  5. track — a song
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. face — to point toward
  8. cue — a signal
  9. cue — for pool
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. current — electric
  12. current — happening now
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. cue — a hint
  15. current — of water
  16. game — a match
  17. face — to confront
  18. game — a kind of play
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. track — to keep track
  21. bank — for money
  22. face — part of the head
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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