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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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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: wake · can · current · wound · saw · stand · firm · temple

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. saw — the tool
  4. wound — an injury
  5. stand — to bear
  6. can — to be able to
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. current — of water
  9. firm — steady
  10. firm — decided
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wound — an injury
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. can — a tin
  16. current — happening now
  17. current — electric
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. wake — a trail
  24. firm — a company

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