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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
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: press · net · calf · temple · key · cabinet · court · pit

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  13. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. Did you ________________ the button?
  24. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. court — of law
  5. net — after costs
  6. net — in sport
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. court — for sport
  10. pit — a hole
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. key — for a lock
  13. press — a publisher
  14. net — for catching
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. key — in music
  18. key — the most important part
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. court — of a king
  21. pit — in a race
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. press — to push
  24. press — newspapers

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