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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · suit · cabinet · roll · patient · temple · arm · dip

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. suit — in cards
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. staff — employees
  5. staff — employees
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. suit — clothes
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. dip — a sauce
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. staff — a stick
  15. roll — a list
  16. dip — to sink
  17. roll — a cake
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. suit — to fit
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. temple — side of the head

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