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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: temple · row · mate · bulb · toast · suit · current · branch

  1. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  2. I've got to change the light ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. Have you found your soul ________________?
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. When will it ________________ you to start?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a tree
  2. bulb — for light
  3. current — of water
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. bulb — for light
  6. current — electric
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. mate — a partner
  12. branch — a division
  13. row — to paddle
  14. branch — of a bank
  15. suit — in cards
  16. mate — a friend
  17. suit — to fit
  18. suit — clothes
  19. row — a line
  20. current — happening now
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. mate — to breed
  24. toast — bread

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