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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: bass · face · stick · court · mark · stand · current · temple

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. face — to confront
  3. current — of water
  4. stand — to bear
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. current — happening now
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. current — electric
  12. face — to point toward
  13. court — for sport
  14. court — of a king
  15. bass — the fish
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. face — part of the head
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. bass — low music
  21. court — of law
  22. stick — to attach or keep to
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. mark — a grade

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