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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.

Make a worksheet

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: firm · lean · temple · mug · pitcher · bay · kick · current

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  5. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. mug — a cup
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. current — electric
  5. kick — with a leg
  6. current — of water
  7. mug — a face
  8. firm — a company
  9. firm — steady
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. firm — decided
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. mug — to rob
  15. lean — thin
  16. lean — to bend
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. current — happening now
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. kick — in football

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