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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: rash · key · mouse · fan · mug · fall · temple · last

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  6. This piece is in a major ________________.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. last — finally
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fall — to drop
  6. key — in music
  7. last — to go on
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. key — the most important part
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mug — a cup
  12. mug — to rob
  13. fall — to drop
  14. fall — the season
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. rash — hasty
  18. last — final
  19. mug — a face
  20. rash — a series
  21. key — for a lock
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. temple — side of the head

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