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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
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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 · present · wake · roll · sharp · bore · vault · key

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. roll — a cake
  3. present — there
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. bore — to drill
  6. bore — to tire
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. vault — a safe
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. present — the time now
  11. key — in music
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. key — for a lock
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. wake — a trail
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. sharp — clever
  19. vault — in gymnastics
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. key — the most important part
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. present — a gift

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