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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: arm · key · craft · spring · rush · date · temple · bay

  1. This piece is in a major ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  7. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. My father caught me by the ________________.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  21. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — in music
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. craft — boats
  4. key — for a lock
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. spring — the season
  7. spring — of water
  8. key — the most important part
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. rush — hurry
  13. craft — a handicraft
  14. spring — a coil
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. date — the fruit
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. bay — a part of the sea
  21. craft — a skill
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. date — on the calendar

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