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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: rock · jam · stick · leaves · staff · temple · bank · patient

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. staff — employees
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. bank — for money
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. staff — employees
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. rock — music
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. staff — a stick
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bank — for money
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bank — of a river
  20. rock — a stone
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. stick — a piece of wood
  24. patient — a sick person

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