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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 120 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: bound · face · tube · key · season · track · temple · wake

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. face — part of the head
  3. tube — the underground
  4. key — in music
  5. bound — obliged
  6. tube — in a tire
  7. bound — certain
  8. season — of the year
  9. tube — a container
  10. track — to keep track
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. season — in sport
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. key — the most important part
  16. face — to point toward
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. bound — tied together
  20. face — to confront
  21. key — for a lock
  22. wake — a trail
  23. track — a song
  24. track — a path

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