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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: staff · rock · foot · jam · rest · mark · dip · stem

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. stem — to come from
  3. rest — what's left
  4. mark — a trace
  5. staff — employees
  6. mark — a grade
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. foot — a measure
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. staff — a stick
  11. stem — of a plant
  12. rest — a break
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. rock — a stone
  18. dip — to sink
  19. rock — music
  20. rest — what's left
  21. stem — a stem cell
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. foot — part of the body
  24. foot — the bottom

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