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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
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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: current · date · cold · jam · charge · rush · temple · mine

  1. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  8. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  9. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. The water is too ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. current — of water
  2. current — happening now
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. date — the fruit
  5. mine — for digging
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. date — on the calendar
  8. cold — the Cold War
  9. cold — an illness
  10. charge — in control
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. cold — not warm
  16. current — electric
  17. rush — hurry
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. charge — electricity
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. charge — a price
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. temple — a place of worship

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