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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: ruler · root · press · coach · temple · key · bound · spell

  1. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. How do you ________________ your surname?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Did you ________________ the button?
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  14. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — pulled by horses
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. spell — letters
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bound — certain
  7. press — to push
  8. spell — magic
  9. key — in music
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. key — the most important part
  12. spell — a short time
  13. key — for a lock
  14. root — of a word
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — obliged
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. root — of a plant
  22. press — a publisher
  23. press — newspapers
  24. root — the cause

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