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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: temple · file · chip · stem · mug · staff · arm · stick

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  10. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. stem — to come from
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. staff — employees
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. chip — for betting
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. file — a tool
  10. file — a line of people
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. staff — employees
  13. stick — to attach or keep to
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. stem — a stem cell
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. mug — a cup
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. chip — to eat
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. staff — a stick

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