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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.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. David sat on the ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. key — in music
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. season — in sport
  6. fine — high quality
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. tube — the underground
  10. season — of the year
  11. tube — a container
  12. rush — hurry
  13. wound — an injury
  14. key — the most important part
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. wound — an injury
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. swing — to play on
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. swing — in golf
  21. tube — in a tire
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. fine — all right

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