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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. squash — the sport
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. current — happening now
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. key — in music
  11. court — of law
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. court — for sport
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. key — for a lock
  17. key — the most important part
  18. current — electric
  19. current — of water
  20. court — of a king
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. squash — to crush

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