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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 120 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: craft · bear · fine · temple · ball · bound · current · perch

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bear — the animal
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bound — certain
  6. current — electric
  7. current — happening now
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. fine — a penalty
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. fine — all right
  13. ball — a great time
  14. ball — a dance
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. craft — boats
  18. perch — the fish
  19. bound — obliged
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. current — of water
  22. craft — a skill
  23. fine — high quality
  24. bear — the animal

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