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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: file · temple · trunk · current · saw · pit · suit · rest

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. suit — in cards
  3. suit — to fit
  4. rest — a break
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. file — a document
  7. pit — a hole
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. file — a tool
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. current — electric
  12. rest — what's left
  13. current — of water
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. saw — the tool
  16. current — happening now
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. suit — clothes
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. pit — in a race
  21. file — a line of people
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. rest — what's left
  24. saw — the tool

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