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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: fan · mouse · temple · cell · key · cue · bank · hand

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. cell — a phone
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. cue — a hint
  7. key — in music
  8. hand — in cards
  9. key — for a lock
  10. cell — in biology
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — of a river
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. bank — for money
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. cue — a signal
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. key — the most important part
  19. hand — help
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. cue — for pool
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. cell — in a prison

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