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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: current · stem · present · temple · last · foot · suit · rush

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  11. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  23. False peace will not ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. suit — clothes
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. last — final
  5. current — electric
  6. stem — to come from
  7. current — of water
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. rush — hurry
  10. stem — of a plant
  11. present — there
  12. foot — a measure
  13. suit — in cards
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. current — happening now
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. stem — a stem cell
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. present — a gift
  21. suit — to fit
  22. last — finally
  23. last — to go on
  24. foot — part of the body

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