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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mine · temple · pit · rush · bowl · mouse · plane · key

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. That must've been a ________________.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. pit — a fruit stone
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pit — in a race
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. plane — a tool
  13. key — in music
  14. pit — a hole
  15. rush — hurry
  16. key — the most important part
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. mine — for digging
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. rush — a thrill
  22. key — for a lock
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. bowl — to roll

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