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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: season · temple · chair · leaves · staff · ruler · mate · stem

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  8. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. mate — to breed
  7. mate — a friend
  8. chair — a professorship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. season — in sport
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. staff — employees
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. stem — a stem cell
  15. season — of the year
  16. staff — a stick
  17. stem — to come from
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. stem — of a plant
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. mate — a partner
  24. chair — a leader

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