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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
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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: dip · net · prune · key · jam · nail · bay · temple

  1. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  2. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — a tight spot
  2. prune — to trim
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. dip — to sink
  6. prune — the fruit
  7. key — in music
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. key — the most important part
  12. net — in sport
  13. net — after costs
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. net — for catching
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. dip — a sauce
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. prune — to trim
  23. key — for a lock
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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