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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: spell · current · rock · temple · kid · safe · stick · pit

  1. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. rock — a stone
  4. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. kid — child
  7. pit — a hole
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. rock — music
  10. current — of water
  11. stick — to attach or keep to
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. current — happening now
  14. spell — magic
  15. spell — a short time
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. spell — letters
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pit — in a race
  22. kid — to tease
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. current — electric

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