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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: safe · pass · rest · fan · temple · trunk · face · current

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. rest — what's left
  3. trunk — of a car
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. face — to confront
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. current — electric
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. face — to point toward
  13. rest — what's left
  14. pass — a permit
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. current — happening now
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. current — of water
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. face — part of the head
  23. rest — a break
  24. trunk — of a tree

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