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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: rash · temple · key · bulb · band · foot · lie · mouse

  1. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. This piece is in a major ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The light ________________ burned out.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. key — the most important part
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. bulb — for light
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. key — for a lock
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. band — a ring
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. key — in music
  11. lie — to recline
  12. foot — a measure
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. bulb — for light
  17. rash — hasty
  18. rash — a series
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. band — a music group
  24. lie — an untruth

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