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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: current · pass · temple · jam · wake · rock · race · scale

  1. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. race — a contest
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. race — the arms race
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. current — electric
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. pass — a permit
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. scale — in music
  11. wake — a trail
  12. rock — music
  13. scale — size or range
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. race — humankind
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. current — happening now
  18. current — of water
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. rock — a stone
  24. jam — a tight spot

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