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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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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 · bore · row · rush · can · fall · branch · temple

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  11. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  16. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  22. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  23. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. bore — to drill
  3. fall — to drop
  4. row — a line
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. current — electric
  10. fall — the season
  11. branch — of a tree
  12. fall — to drop
  13. can — a tin
  14. current — happening now
  15. row — a quarrel
  16. bore — to tire
  17. rush — hurry
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. current — of water
  20. can — a tin
  21. row — to paddle
  22. branch — of a bank
  23. branch — a division
  24. temple — side of the head

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