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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: stem · sharp · cap · safe · bound · date · current · temple

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  9. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. current — happening now
  4. current — electric
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. cap — a hat
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. cap — a lid
  9. cap — of ice
  10. date — the fruit
  11. stem — to come from
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. bound — certain
  14. sharp — clever
  15. bound — obliged
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. current — of water
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. temple — side of the head

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