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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
468
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. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. root — of a word
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. season — of the year
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. current — of water
  11. season — in sport
  12. current — electric
  13. key — for a lock
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. rash — a series
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. rash — hasty
  18. root — of a plant
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. key — in music
  21. dip — to sink
  22. current — happening now
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. root — the cause

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