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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: temple · nail · pit · mine · pass · mate · ruler · current

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. mine — for digging
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. pass — a permit
  11. mate — a partner
  12. current — happening now
  13. mate — a friend
  14. pit — in a race
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. current — electric
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. nail — on a finger
  23. mate — to breed
  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