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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 · foot · track · temple · staff · firm · nail · plane

  1. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  20. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — with an edge
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. foot — part of the body
  4. staff — a stick
  5. staff — employees
  6. firm — a company
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. firm — decided
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. sharp — clever
  15. track — to keep track
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. track — a song
  18. foot — a measure
  19. firm — steady
  20. plane — a tool
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. staff — employees
  23. track — a path
  24. plane — an aircraft

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