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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 120 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: rock · rush · staff · current · charge · temple · mug · fan

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. charge — electricity
  4. mug — a cup
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. staff — a stick
  7. rock — a stone
  8. mug — a face
  9. rock — music
  10. charge — a price
  11. current — of water
  12. rush — hurry
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. current — electric
  16. staff — employees
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. current — happening now
  20. charge — in control
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. staff — employees
  24. mug — to rob

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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