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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 120 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: stick · fine · wake · stand · capital · key · temple · deal

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. stand — to bear
  4. fine — high quality
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. capital — money
  9. key — the most important part
  10. deal — to handle
  11. key — in music
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. wake — before a funeral
  14. wake — a trail
  15. key — for a lock
  16. capital — a big letter
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. capital — a city
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. fine — all right
  24. deal — an agreement

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