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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
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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: key · cabinet · field · saw · bay · temple · mug · perch

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. mug — a face
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. saw — the tool
  7. perch — the fish
  8. mug — a cup
  9. key — for a lock
  10. field — for sport
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. key — in music
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. key — the most important part
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. field — farmland
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. mug — to rob
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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