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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: bass · ball · patient · object · current · rest · stem · temple

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  9. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — of water
  3. bass — the fish
  4. patient — calm and waiting
  5. ball — a dance
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. stem — a stem cell
  9. bass — low music
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. rest — what's left
  12. object — a thing
  13. stem — to come from
  14. object — to protest
  15. ball — a great time
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. rest — what's left
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. object — an aim
  21. patient — a sick person
  22. current — electric
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. rest — a break

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