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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.

Make a worksheet

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: hand · toast · temple · pit · bear · mug · key · rush

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. key — for a lock
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. bear — the animal
  6. mug — a face
  7. pit — a hole
  8. hand — in cards
  9. toast — bread
  10. pit — in a race
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. hand — help
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. bear — the animal
  20. key — the most important part
  21. mug — a cup
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. rush — hurry
  24. rush — a thrill

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