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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
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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: can · season · content · stick · temple · root · chip · trunk

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. chip — for betting
  4. content — the amount
  5. season — in sport
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. root — of a plant
  12. can — a tin
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. root — the cause
  15. content — happy
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. can — a tin
  19. can — to be able to
  20. season — of the year
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. chip — to eat
  23. root — of a word
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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