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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
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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: sharp · temple · coach · staff · squash · ground · club · current

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  6. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. current — electric
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. club — for golf
  6. squash — the sport
  7. staff — employees
  8. ground — the earth
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. current — happening now
  11. squash — to crush
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. ground — crushed
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. sharp — clever
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. club — a group
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. club — for dancing
  20. staff — a stick
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. staff — employees
  23. current — of water
  24. coach — pulled by horses

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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