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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.

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. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. That was a fun ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. game — wild animals
  3. can — to be able to
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. mug — to rob
  11. game — a match
  12. can — a tin
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. key — in music
  16. mug — a face
  17. can — a tin
  18. mug — a cup
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. mine — for digging
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. key — for a lock

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