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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.

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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: temple · saw · key · current · firm · bulb · coach · scale

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. firm — a company
  5. bulb — for light
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. key — in music
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. current — of water
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. key — the most important part
  15. firm — steady
  16. current — happening now
  17. saw — the tool
  18. current — electric
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. scale — in music
  21. firm — decided
  22. scale — size or range
  23. saw — the tool
  24. coach — a trainer

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