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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 120 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: cold · hide · current · temple · rock · bay · key · plane

  1. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The water is too ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. cold — the Cold War
  2. key — the most important part
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. cold — not warm
  5. key — in music
  6. current — happening now
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. current — of water
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. rock — a stone
  14. cold — an illness
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. current — electric
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. key — for a lock
  21. rock — music
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. plane — a tool

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