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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: temple · plane · lie · cue · land · snap · key · suit

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The ________________ took off on time.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. When are we going to ________________?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. suit — in cards
  4. key — for a lock
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. plane — an aircraft
  7. snap — to click
  8. land — a country
  9. cue — a signal
  10. land — ground
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. cue — a hint
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. key — in music
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. suit — to fit
  20. land — to come down
  21. key — the most important part
  22. lie — to recline
  23. cue — for pool
  24. suit — clothes

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