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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 120 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: rock · temple · fork · fan · dip · current · pitch · bark

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. dip — to sink
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. fork — in a road
  5. bark — to shout
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — of water
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. rock — a stone
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. current — electric
  14. bark — a dog's sound
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. pitch — completely
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. dip — to dunk
  22. rock — music
  23. dip — a sauce
  24. bark — of a tree

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