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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: temple · dip · foot · sharp · staff · can · bass · bank

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. It's one o'clock ________________.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  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. bank — for money
  2. dip — a sauce
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. can — to be able to
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. staff — employees
  9. bass — the fish
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. sharp — exactly
  12. sharp — clever
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. bass — low music
  16. can — a tin
  17. bank — of a river
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. dip — to sink
  20. bank — for money
  21. staff — a stick
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. can — a tin
  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