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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  8. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  9. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  10. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  11. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  12. Have you settled on a ________________?
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. date — the fruit
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. bore — gave birth
  8. row — to paddle
  9. bay — a part of the sea
  10. game — wild animals
  11. row — a line
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. bore — to drill
  16. key — the most important part
  17. bore — to tire
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. key — in music
  23. game — a match
  24. temple — a place of worship

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