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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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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: temple · pass · staff · squash · bay · board · toast · root

  1. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. toast — the most admired
  2. staff — employees
  3. squash — the sport
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. squash — to crush
  8. root — the cause
  9. root — of a word
  10. board — a committee
  11. staff — employees
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. staff — a stick
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. toast — bread
  21. board — to get on
  22. root — of a plant
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. pass — to succeed

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