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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
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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 · vault · current · drill · roll · can · cue · cold

  1. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The water is too ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. cold — an illness
  2. drill — army training
  3. drill — a practice
  4. cue — a signal
  5. drill — the tool
  6. can — a tin
  7. roll — a list
  8. vault — a safe
  9. cold — the Cold War
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. can — to be able to
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. roll — a cake
  14. current — happening now
  15. cold — not warm
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. current — electric
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. cue — for pool
  20. can — a tin
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. current — of water
  24. cue — a hint

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