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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: content · cue · jam · foot · wound · tube · staff · temple

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I'll be taking the ________________.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. cue — for pool
  3. foot — a measure
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. tube — a container
  8. staff — a stick
  9. tube — in a tire
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — employees
  12. wound — an injury
  13. content — the amount
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. cue — a hint
  16. tube — the underground
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. content — happy
  20. wound — an injury
  21. cue — a signal
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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