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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 · toast · leaves · trunk · rock · temple · net · key

  1. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of an elephant
  2. key — for a lock
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. rock — a stone
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. current — happening now
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. key — in music
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. key — the most important part
  14. net — for catching
  15. net — in sport
  16. current — electric
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. toast — bread
  20. current — of water
  21. net — after costs
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. rock — music

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