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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
468
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 · key · pass · can · prune · temple · calf · cue

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. cue — for pool
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. cue — a hint
  6. pass — a permit
  7. current — electric
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. prune — to trim
  10. can — a tin
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. current — happening now
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. prune — the fruit
  17. current — of water
  18. can — a tin
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. prune — to trim
  22. key — for a lock
  23. can — to be able to
  24. cue — a signal

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