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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: key · foot · game · temple · pound · cabinet · rash · fine

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  4. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  5. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. key — the most important part
  4. pound — for dogs
  5. game — a kind of play
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. rash — a series
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. fine — high quality
  11. key — for a lock
  12. game — a match
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. fine — all right
  16. foot — a measure
  17. game — wild animals
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. key — in music
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. rash — hasty
  24. pound — a weight

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