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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: mouse · season · staff · coach · mate · track · temple · sharp

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. season — of the year
  3. staff — employees
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. staff — a stick
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. staff — employees
  9. mate — a friend
  10. mate — a partner
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. sharp — clever
  13. track — to keep track
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. temple — side of the head
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. mate — to breed
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. season — in sport
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. track — a path
  24. season — to add flavour

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