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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: deal · field · bore · key · mouse · leaves · rash · temple

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. bore — to tire
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. rash — hasty
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. key — for a lock
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. deal — to handle
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. key — in music
  18. bore — to drill
  19. field — a subject
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. key — the most important part
  22. field — for sport
  23. field — farmland
  24. rash — a series

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