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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.

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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 · temple · land · chip · bear · foot · object · key

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. When are we going to ________________?
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. land — ground
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. bear — the animal
  5. object — a thing
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. object — an aim
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. land — a country
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. key — the most important part
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. key — for a lock
  16. chip — for betting
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. chip — to eat
  19. land — to come down
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. object — to protest
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. key — in music
  24. foot — a measure

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