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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: chip · current · bank · pop · temple · track · pass · bulb

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. You don't need to ________________ round.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. pop — music
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. track — to keep track
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. bank — for money
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. pop — to visit
  10. current — electric
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. current — of water
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. track — a path
  15. pop — soda
  16. bulb — for light
  17. pass — a permit
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. current — happening now
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. track — a song
  22. chip — to eat
  23. bank — of a river
  24. bank — for money

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