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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: suit · can · jam · race · cabinet · staff · temple · fan

  1. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  22. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  23. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — a stick
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. suit — clothes
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. can — to be able to
  7. suit — to fit
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. staff — employees
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. can — a tin
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. race — the arms race
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. staff — employees
  19. can — a tin
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. race — humankind
  22. cabinet — a cupboard
  23. race — a contest
  24. suit — in cards

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