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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: rock · pit · temple · current · patient · net · rash · season

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. season — in sport
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — of water
  5. current — electric
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. rash — hasty
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — for catching
  10. season — of the year
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. rock — a stone
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. rash — a series
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. net — in sport
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. pit — a hole
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. rock — music
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. season — to add flavour

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