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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.

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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: temple · cell · last · calf · lean · foot · cabinet · jam

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. False peace will not ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  21. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. last — to go on
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. lean — thin
  11. last — final
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cell — in biology
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. foot — a measure
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. lean — to bend
  20. calf — of the leg
  21. last — finally
  22. cell — a phone
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. calf — a young animal

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