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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: nail · lie · lash · bulb · key · temple · racket · deal

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  5. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. The ________________ went through the wall.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. key — for a lock
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. lash — an eyelash
  5. racket — a loud noise
  6. deal — to handle
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. lie — to recline
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. bulb — of a plant
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. key — in music
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. bulb — for light
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. bulb — for light
  20. key — the most important part
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. lie — an untruth

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