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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: bound · tube · key · temple · roll · fine · mine · spring

  1. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  2. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — an explosive
  2. roll — a list
  3. spring — of water
  4. bound — tied together
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. mine — for digging
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. bound — certain
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. fine — all right
  14. tube — the underground
  15. fine — high quality
  16. tube — a container
  17. roll — a cake
  18. key — for a lock
  19. key — the most important part
  20. key — in music
  21. spring — the season
  22. bound — obliged
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. spring — a coil

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