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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: current · can · board · mate · bank · pop · temple · bay

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Have you found your soul ________________?
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  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. bay — to keep at bay
  2. current — of water
  3. pop — to visit
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. mate — a partner
  6. bank — for money
  7. can — a tin
  8. mate — to breed
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. board — to get on
  11. bank — of a river
  12. pop — music
  13. current — electric
  14. board — a committee
  15. pop — soda
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bank — for money
  18. mate — a friend
  19. can — a tin
  20. current — happening now
  21. can — to be able to
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. temple — a place of worship
  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