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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. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. net — in sport
  3. net — for catching
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rash — hasty
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. key — the most important part
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. sharp — clever
  12. net — after costs
  13. lie — to recline
  14. rash — a series
  15. firm — decided
  16. root — of a word
  17. root — the cause
  18. firm — steady
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. key — for a lock
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. root — of a plant
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. firm — a company

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