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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: pop · perch · date · jam · roll · kid · current · temple

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. current — happening now
  4. kid — to tease
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. date — the fruit
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. pop — to visit
  10. roll — a cake
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. pop — soda
  14. kid — child
  15. roll — a list
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. perch — the fish
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. pop — music
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. temple — a place of worship

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