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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.

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: key · roll · rash · fine · plane · temple · mine · leaves

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. key — for a lock
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. roll — a list
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. mine — for digging
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. rash — a series
  13. fine — high quality
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. fine — all right
  16. rash — hasty
  17. plane — a tool
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. roll — a cake
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. key — the most important part
  24. temple — side of the head

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