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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: bank · rush · leaves · spell · pass · rock · temple · key

  1. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — hurry
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. bank — of a river
  4. spell — a short time
  5. spell — magic
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. spell — letters
  10. key — in music
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. pass — a permit
  14. rock — a stone
  15. rock — music
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. bank — for money
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. bank — for money
  22. key — the most important part
  23. key — for a lock
  24. pass — to spend time

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