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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.

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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: bass · bay · temple · suit · bulb · season · rash · current

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. suit — in cards
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. current — of water
  6. season — of the year
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. bulb — for light
  9. suit — to fit
  10. rash — hasty
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. current — electric
  14. bass — low music
  15. current — happening now
  16. season — in sport
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. bass — the fish
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. rash — a series
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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