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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: board · temple · mug · pitcher · bark · key · rest · mate

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Have you found your soul ________________?
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Where did you ________________ them?
  20. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. mate — a partner
  5. board — to get on
  6. rest — a break
  7. mug — a cup
  8. bark — of a tree
  9. key — the most important part
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. mate — a friend
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bark — to shout
  15. board — a committee
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. key — in music
  19. mug — to rob
  20. bark — a dog's sound
  21. mug — a face
  22. key — for a lock
  23. rest — what's left
  24. mate — to breed

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