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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 120 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: object · staff · deal · foot · pass · file · rock · temple

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. staff — employees
  3. rock — music
  4. object — a thing
  5. file — a line of people
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. object — an aim
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. staff — employees
  11. file — a tool
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. object — to protest
  18. deal — to handle
  19. file — a document
  20. pass — a permit
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. foot — a measure
  24. rock — a stone

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