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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: perch · current · toast · temple · straw · season · board · stand

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — electric
  3. stand — to bear
  4. toast — bread
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. current — of water
  7. season — in sport
  8. board — to get on
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. season — of the year
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. board — a committee
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. perch — the fish
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. straw — a straw man

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