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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: calf · foot · wake · staff · temple · spell · cabinet · ground

  1. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  2. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. calf — of the leg
  2. wake — a trail
  3. ground — the earth
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. staff — employees
  6. staff — a stick
  7. wake — before a funeral
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. spell — a short time
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. ground — crushed
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. ground — a position
  18. spell — magic
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. spell — letters
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. foot — a measure
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. staff — employees

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