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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.

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: bank · key · chip · spell · lie · temple · scale · fine

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. spell — letters
  3. bank — for money
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. key — the most important part
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. spell — magic
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. chip — for betting
  12. key — in music
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bank — for money
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. fine — all right
  17. spell — a short time
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. scale — size or range
  20. scale — in music
  21. lie — to recline
  22. chip — to eat
  23. bank — of a river
  24. key — for a lock

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