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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.

Make a worksheet

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 · jam · pop · chip · kid · temple · foot · current

  1. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. foot — a measure
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. kid — to tease
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. current — electric
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. chip — for betting
  12. bass — the fish
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. chip — to eat
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bass — low music
  17. foot — the bottom
  18. current — of water
  19. pop — soda
  20. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. pop — music
  23. kid — child
  24. current — happening now

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