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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: drill · perch · firm · mug · wound · temple · key · bear

  1. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. firm — decided
  3. bear — the animal
  4. drill — army training
  5. mug — a cup
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. key — for a lock
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bear — the animal
  12. firm — steady
  13. firm — a company
  14. key — the most important part
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. perch — the fish
  17. drill — a practice
  18. mug — a face
  19. wound — an injury
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. wound — an injury
  23. key — in music
  24. drill — the 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