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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
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: temple · board · foot · hide · bear · current · prune · rash

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. prune — the fruit
  3. current — electric
  4. hide — animal skin
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. bear — to put up with
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. board — to get on
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. board — a committee
  13. current — of water
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. current — happening now
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. bear — the animal
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. prune — to trim
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. foot — a measure
  22. rash — hasty
  23. prune — to trim
  24. rash — a series

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