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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.

Make a worksheet

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: staff · key · lash · wound · deal · spell · hand · temple

  1. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. lash — an eyelash
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. key — for a lock
  5. staff — a stick
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. spell — magic
  9. key — the most important part
  10. hand — in cards
  11. wound — an injury
  12. spell — letters
  13. key — in music
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. staff — employees
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. spell — a short time
  19. hand — help
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. staff — employees
  23. wound — an injury
  24. deal — to handle

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