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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: stick · key · foot · rush · land · temple · row · bay

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  12. When are we going to ________________?
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. row — to paddle
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. key — in music
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. land — ground
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. key — for a lock
  11. row — a quarrel
  12. land — to come down
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. rush — hurry
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. row — a line
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. land — a country
  24. key — the most important part

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