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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 120 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: pass · rest · temple · charge · can · key · wound · suit

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. rest — a break
  3. can — a tin
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. suit — clothes
  6. charge — electricity
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. rest — what's left
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. charge — a price
  11. suit — to fit
  12. wound — an injury
  13. rest — what's left
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. key — in music
  16. can — to be able to
  17. key — for a lock
  18. can — a tin
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. pass — a permit
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. charge — in control
  23. key — the most important part
  24. suit — in cards

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