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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.

Make a worksheet

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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. bound — tied together
  3. straw — to clutch at straws
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. game — wild animals
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. fine — all right
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. key — in music
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. net — for catching
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. straw — dry grass
  15. game — a match
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bound — obliged
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — the most important part
  20. net — after costs
  21. net — in sport
  22. bound — certain
  23. toast — bread
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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