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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.

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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. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. This piece is in a major ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. key — for a lock
  3. suit — to fit
  4. suit — clothes
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. hand — help
  8. key — in music
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bear — the animal
  12. hand — in cards
  13. suit — in cards
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. straw — a straw man
  20. key — the most important part
  21. bear — the animal
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. lash — to lash out

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