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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: ball · sharp · current · temple · mine · mouse · can · dip

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. ball — a great time
  4. can — a tin
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. current — electric
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. mine — for digging
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. mine — an explosive
  13. ball — a dance
  14. current — of water
  15. can — a tin
  16. current — happening now
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. sharp — clever
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. dip — to sink

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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