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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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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 · rush · bank · trunk · current · board · cap · file

  1. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  21. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a tool
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. bank — of a river
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. bank — for money
  7. cap — a lid
  8. board — to get on
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. file — a line of people
  11. current — happening now
  12. bank — for money
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. file — a document
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. current — electric
  17. current — of water
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. cap — a hat
  21. trunk — of an elephant
  22. board — a committee
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. cap — of ice

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