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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 · plane · current · wake · rush · coach · pass · bound

  1. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  8. The ________________ took off on time.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — electric
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — certain
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. current — happening now
  6. wake — a trail
  7. plane — a tool
  8. plane — an aircraft
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. pass — to spend time
  12. rush — hurry
  13. pass — a permit
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bound — obliged
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. current — of water
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. rush — a thrill

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