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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: pitcher · deal · key · bark · row · rock · trunk · temple

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  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. key — the most important part
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. bark — of a tree
  7. row — a line
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. rock — a stone
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. row — to paddle
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. rock — music
  14. deal — to handle
  15. key — in music
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bark — to shout
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. bark — a dog's sound
  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