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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: mouse · season · cabinet · club · deal · saw · temple · staff

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  16. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. season — of the year
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. club — for dancing
  7. season — in sport
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. deal — to handle
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. club — a group
  13. saw — the tool
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. deal — a big deal
  16. club — for golf
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. staff — employees
  24. cabinet — ministers

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