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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: chip · press · cap · temple · roll · staff · dip · foot

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. Did you ________________ the button?
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. press — newspapers
  5. chip — for betting
  6. dip — to dunk
  7. foot — a measure
  8. roll — a list
  9. dip — to sink
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. staff — employees
  12. staff — a stick
  13. cap — a lid
  14. chip — to eat
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. foot — part of the body
  18. staff — employees
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. roll — a cake
  21. cap — of ice
  22. press — to push
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. cap — a hat

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