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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: suit · current · can · branch · roll · wake · temple · mouse

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. can — to be able to
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. can — a tin
  12. wake — a trail
  13. current — electric
  14. suit — in cards
  15. current — of water
  16. roll — a list
  17. branch — a division
  18. current — happening now
  19. roll — a cake
  20. can — a tin
  21. branch — of a bank
  22. suit — to fit
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. suit — clothes

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