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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: track · temple · leaves · pop · hide · current · pit · tube

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. tube — a container
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. current — of water
  6. pop — soda
  7. current — electric
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. track — a path
  11. pit — in a race
  12. track — a song
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. pop — to visit
  16. current — happening now
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. tube — the underground
  19. pop — music
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. track — to keep track
  24. pit — a hole

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