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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: stand · trunk · staff · chip · march · dip · key · temple

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  16. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  17. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. chip — for betting
  3. staff — a stick
  4. stand — to bear
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. dip — to sink
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. key — for a lock
  10. march — the month
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. staff — employees
  13. march — the month
  14. chip — to eat
  15. march — music
  16. dip — to dunk
  17. trunk — of an elephant
  18. key — in music
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. key — the most important part
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. staff — employees

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