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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: temple · sharp · scale · cabinet · fan · pit · current · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. current — of water
  4. pit — a hole
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. sharp — clever
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. current — electric
  10. scale — in music
  11. pit — in a race
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. scale — size or range
  14. current — happening now
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. pit — a fruit stone
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. scale — for weighing

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