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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
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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: date · lie · key · fall · row · season · coach · temple

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  6. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. lie — to recline
  4. key — the most important part
  5. date — the fruit
  6. fall — the season
  7. season — in sport
  8. season — of the year
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. row — a line
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. fall — to drop
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. key — in music
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. key — for a lock
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. row — to paddle

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