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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: season · stem · mate · current · jam · field · temple · lie

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  3. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  16. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. stem — of a plant
  3. field — farmland
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. current — happening now
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. stem — to come from
  8. mate — to breed
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. mate — a partner
  11. lie — to recline
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. current — of water
  15. jam — to spread on bread
  16. field — a subject
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. current — electric
  19. field — for sport
  20. mate — a friend
  21. season — in sport
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. season — of the year

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