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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. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. key — for a lock
  7. degree — temperature
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bank — for money
  12. present — the time now
  13. present — there
  14. bank — of a river
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. rash — a series
  17. rash — hasty
  18. key — the most important part
  19. present — a gift
  20. degree — an amount
  21. bank — for money
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. degree — from a university

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