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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: jam · key · roll · mine · deal · temple · straw · mark

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. key — in music
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. roll — a cake
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. straw — to clutch at straws
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. mark — a trace
  13. mark — a grade
  14. jam — a tight spot
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. roll — a list
  19. mine — belonging to me
  20. mine — for digging
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. key — for a lock
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. key — the most important part

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