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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
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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: squash · current · pop · temple · board · land · season · stem

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. We're almost out of ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. When are we going to ________________?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  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. pop — music
  2. stem — to come from
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. pop — to visit
  5. pop — soda
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. current — of water
  8. land — to come down
  9. season — of the year
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. squash — the sport
  12. board — to get on
  13. current — electric
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. season — in sport
  16. land — ground
  17. land — a country
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. current — happening now
  21. squash — to crush
  22. board — a committee
  23. squash — the vegetable
  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