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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: sharp · staff · bear · temple · foot · cabinet · coach · rest

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. rest — what's left
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. foot — a measure
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. staff — a stick
  13. staff — employees
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. sharp — clever
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. rest — a break
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. rest — what's left
  24. staff — employees

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