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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.

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 · mate · ground · temple · current · spring · stand · bowl

  1. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. This piece is in a major ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  20. Have you found your soul ________________?
  21. There's no middle ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. key — for a lock
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. key — in music
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. spring — a coil
  6. key — the most important part
  7. current — of water
  8. current — happening now
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. stand — to bear
  13. current — electric
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. spring — the season
  17. ground — crushed
  18. mate — to breed
  19. spring — of water
  20. mate — a partner
  21. ground — a position
  22. mate — a friend
  23. ground — the earth
  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