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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 · present · rock · current · deal · leaves · lash · chip

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. deal — to handle
  5. present — there
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. chip — for betting
  9. current — happening now
  10. current — of water
  11. rock — music
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. rock — a stone
  16. present — the time now
  17. current — electric
  18. present — a gift
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. chip — to eat
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. leaves — to go away

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