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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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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: key · swing · temple · press · chip · bound · toast · deal

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Did you ________________ the button?

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. press — a publisher
  3. bound — certain
  4. toast — bread
  5. key — for a lock
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. key — in music
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. bound — obliged
  11. bound — tied together
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. swing — music
  14. press — newspapers
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. deal — to handle
  17. key — the most important part
  18. chip — for betting
  19. swing — to play on
  20. chip — to eat
  21. swing — in golf
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. press — to push

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