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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.

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: perch · charge · press · temple · rock · ball · key · mouse

  1. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  20. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. ball — a dance
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. press — to push
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. charge — electricity
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. rock — music
  12. charge — in control
  13. perch — the fish
  14. charge — a price
  15. key — the most important part
  16. rock — a stone
  17. press — a publisher
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. key — for a lock
  20. press — newspapers
  21. ball — a great time
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. key — in music
  24. ball — a round shape

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