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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: straw · jam · object · temple · current · rock · pitcher · ball

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  20. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. rock — a stone
  4. object — a thing
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. current — happening now
  12. ball — a dance
  13. current — electric
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. current — of water
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. rock — music
  19. object — an aim
  20. straw — dry grass
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. object — to protest
  24. ball — a great time

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