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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: fan · current · temple · foot · pitch · bulb · lean · rock

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. bulb — for light
  6. pitch — completely
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — music
  9. current — electric
  10. current — happening now
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bulb — for light
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. lean — thin
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. lean — to bend
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. current — of water
  24. pitch — a sports field

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