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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
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: spell · temple · saw · key · staff · season · rush · cue

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Did you ________________ the meat?
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. This piece is in a major ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. season — to add flavour
  3. season — in sport
  4. key — the most important part
  5. season — of the year
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. spell — a short time
  8. cue — for pool
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. spell — letters
  11. spell — magic
  12. saw — the tool
  13. staff — employees
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. staff — a stick
  16. key — in music
  17. cue — a hint
  18. saw — the tool
  19. cue — a signal
  20. staff — employees
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. rush — hurry
  23. key — for a lock
  24. rush — to hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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