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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 120 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: staff · content · pop · sharp · rock · can · mark · temple

  1. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. mark — a grade
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. pop — soda
  5. can — a tin
  6. staff — employees
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pop — music
  9. can — a tin
  10. mark — a trace
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. sharp — clever
  13. rock — music
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. content — the amount
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. content — happy
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. pop — to visit
  23. can — to be able to
  24. staff — a stick

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