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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: lash · coach · temple · staff · wake · content · rush · spell

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  17. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. wake — a trail
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. spell — a short time
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. staff — employees
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. staff — a stick
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. content — happy
  17. content — videos and posts
  18. spell — magic
  19. rush — hurry
  20. content — the amount
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. spell — letters
  24. wake — before a funeral

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