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

Word bank: wave · temple · rush · mate · lie · spell · key · kick

  1. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  2. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wave — with your hand
  2. kick — a thrill
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. spell — a short time
  5. key — in music
  6. mate — to breed
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. spell — magic
  10. kick — in football
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. key — for a lock
  17. mate — a partner
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. spell — letters
  21. key — the most important part
  22. lie — to recline
  23. mate — a friend
  24. rush — hurry

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