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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: board · bass · bat · temple · deal · mug · stem · staff

  1. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  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. bat — the animal
  2. deal — to handle
  3. stem — of a plant
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bass — the fish
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. bass — low music
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. bat — in an idiom
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. stem — to come from
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. staff — a stick
  20. board — a committee
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. staff — employees
  23. board — to get on
  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