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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: can · spell · coach · temple · ball · lean · firm · current

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. ball — a dance
  3. current — happening now
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. firm — a company
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. lean — to bend
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. current — electric
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. spell — magic
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. can — to be able to
  14. spell — letters
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. lean — thin
  17. ball — a great time
  18. current — of water
  19. firm — decided
  20. can — a tin
  21. spell — a short time
  22. firm — steady
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. coach — a trainer

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