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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.

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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: ruler · jam · staff · net · charge · current · temple · rock

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. The tickets are free of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. current — of water
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. rock — a stone
  10. net — after costs
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. charge — in control
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. charge — electricity
  15. staff — a stick
  16. staff — employees
  17. current — electric
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. current — happening now
  20. net — in sport
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. rock — music
  23. staff — employees
  24. charge — a price

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