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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.

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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: board · key · object · perch · mouse · rule · temple · wound

  1. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  20. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. perch — the fish
  2. rule — government
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. rule — a law
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. object — an aim
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. key — the most important part
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. board — to get on
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. wound — an injury
  15. perch — for a bird
  16. wound — an injury
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. rule — to rule out
  20. object — to protest
  21. key — in music
  22. key — for a lock
  23. board — a committee
  24. object — a thing

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