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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 · leaves · bank · cue · jam · stick · lash · temple

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. key — the most important part
  5. key — for a lock
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. lash — an eyelash
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — for money
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. key — in music
  14. cue — for pool
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. cue — a signal
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. bank — of a river
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. cue — a hint
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. temple — a place of worship

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