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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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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 ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. key — for a lock
  3. dip — to sink
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. key — the most important part
  6. can — a tin
  7. hand — help
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. bore — to drill
  12. object — an aim
  13. can — to be able to
  14. can — a tin
  15. hand — in cards
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. bore — to tire
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. key — in music
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. object — a thing
  23. object — to protest
  24. ruler — a monarch

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