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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: rush · rock · bear · current · face · nail · hide · temple

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. face — to point toward
  5. rush — hurry
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — music
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. bear — the animal
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. current — of water
  15. bear — the animal
  16. current — happening now
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. face — part of the head
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. face — to confront
  24. current — electric

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