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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
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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. When was this ________________ built?
  2. That was a fun ________________.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  12. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  13. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  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. temple — a place of worship
  2. game — a match
  3. key — in music
  4. key — the most important part
  5. land — a country
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bear — to put up with
  12. spring — of water
  13. game — a kind of play
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. saw — the tool
  16. land — ground
  17. bear — the animal
  18. game — wild animals
  19. spring — a coil
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. spring — the season
  22. land — to come down
  23. saw — the tool
  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