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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: temple · mouse · current · charge · ball · bulb · date · can

  1. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. date — the fruit
  2. charge — in control
  3. charge — a price
  4. mouse — for a computer
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. can — a tin
  7. bulb — for light
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. current — happening now
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. current — electric
  14. charge — electricity
  15. current — of water
  16. bulb — for light
  17. ball — a dance
  18. can — a tin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. ball — a great time
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. can — to be able to
  24. date — on the calendar

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