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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 · temple · stand · march · bank · current · club · rush

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rush — hurry
  4. bank — of a river
  5. march — the month
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bank — for money
  8. perch — the fish
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. march — the month
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. current — happening now
  13. stand — to bear
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. club — a group
  16. current — electric
  17. club — for dancing
  18. march — music
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. current — of water
  21. club — for golf
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. perch — for a bird
  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