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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: fall · foot · temple · sharp · current · key · band · bulb

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. band — a music group
  5. current — electric
  6. bulb — for light
  7. key — for a lock
  8. current — of water
  9. band — a ring
  10. current — happening now
  11. foot — a measure
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. key — the most important part
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. fall — to drop
  16. fall — the season
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. sharp — clever
  19. bulb — for light
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. fall — to drop
  24. temple — a place of worship

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