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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: drill · press · current · suit · root · staff · temple · calf

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. suit — clothes
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. drill — a practice
  5. root — the cause
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. press — a publisher
  9. press — to push
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — electric
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. root — of a word
  14. drill — army training
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. current — of water
  17. drill — the tool
  18. staff — a stick
  19. press — newspapers
  20. suit — in cards
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. root — of a plant
  23. staff — employees
  24. suit — to fit

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