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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: scale · current · date · hide · fine · trunk · temple · content

  1. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — in music
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. trunk — of a tree
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. current — electric
  9. scale — size or range
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. current — happening now
  12. date — the fruit
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. current — of water
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. content — happy
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. fine — all right
  23. fine — high quality
  24. content — the amount

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