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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: bay · mark · current · temple · arm · leaves · pop · nail

  1. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a grade
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. current — of water
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. current — electric
  9. pop — to visit
  10. mark — a trace
  11. current — happening now
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. pop — music
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. bay — a part of the sea
  22. pop — soda
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. leaves — lets stay

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