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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: perch · mug · temple · stock · charge · trunk · bass · current

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. bass — the fish
  5. current — happening now
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. mug — to rob
  8. charge — a price
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — shares
  12. perch — the fish
  13. bass — low music
  14. bass — the instrument
  15. current — of water
  16. charge — in control
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. mug — a cup
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. charge — electricity
  22. current — electric
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. mug — a face

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