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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.

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
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: current · lash · mine · rash · toast · temple · content · jam

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. mine — for digging
  4. current — happening now
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. toast — a drink to someone
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. toast — bread
  11. current — of water
  12. rash — a series
  13. current — electric
  14. toast — the most admired
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. rash — hasty
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. content — happy
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. content — the amount
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. temple — a place of worship

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