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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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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: rest · root · press · coach · temple · calf · stick · stand

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Have you met the new head ________________?
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. stand — to bear
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. press — newspapers
  12. root — of a word
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. root — of a plant
  15. press — to push
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. root — the cause
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. rest — what's left
  22. rest — a break
  23. rest — what's left
  24. temple — a place of worship

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