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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: arm · current · rush · temple · racket · craft · lean · hand

  1. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. current — happening now
  2. current — of water
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. lean — to bend
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. craft — a handicraft
  9. hand — help
  10. craft — boats
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. hand — in cards
  17. craft — a skill
  18. lean — thin
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. rush — hurry
  24. current — electric

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