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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 120 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
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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: drill · temple · cell · sharp · can · current · kid · key

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  12. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. cell — in biology
  3. current — electric
  4. can — to be able to
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. cell — a phone
  7. drill — a practice
  8. drill — the tool
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. current — happening now
  11. kid — child
  12. key — the most important part
  13. key — in music
  14. can — a tin
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. can — a tin
  17. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  18. drill — army training
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. sharp — clever
  22. key — for a lock
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. kid — to tease

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