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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. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. board — to get on
  3. key — the most important part
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cap — of ice
  7. cue — for pool
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. cap — a hat
  10. key — for a lock
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. cue — a hint
  13. pass — a permit
  14. chip — to eat
  15. key — in music
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. board — a committee
  20. cue — a signal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. chip — for betting

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