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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
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: current · pit · temple · patient · drill · leaves · date · mate

  1. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  2. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Have you found your soul ________________?
  16. Have you settled on a ________________?
  17. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — army training
  2. date — the fruit
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. current — happening now
  5. drill — a practice
  6. drill — the tool
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. pit — in a race
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. current — electric
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. mate — a partner
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. current — of water
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. mate — to breed
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. mate — a friend
  23. pit — a hole
  24. patient — a sick person

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