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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: mug · current · foot · temple · leaves · firm · cap · rush

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. rush — hurry
  3. current — of water
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. firm — steady
  7. mug — to rob
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. foot — a measure
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. cap — of ice
  12. firm — decided
  13. cap — a lid
  14. mug — a cup
  15. current — happening now
  16. firm — a company
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. current — electric
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. mug — a face
  24. cap — a hat

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