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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: dip · object · pit · lash · key · ground · temple · fine

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. object — to protest
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. key — for a lock
  6. fine — all right
  7. pit — a fruit stone
  8. pit — in a race
  9. dip — to sink
  10. pit — a hole
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. object — a thing
  13. ground — the earth
  14. fine — high quality
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. ground — a position
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. key — in music
  23. ground — crushed
  24. object — an aim

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