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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mouse · mug · drill · mark · staff · trunk · temple · coach

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. drill — army training
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. staff — employees
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. mug — a cup
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. drill — a practice
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. trunk — of an elephant
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. mug — a face
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. drill — the tool
  18. mark — a trace
  19. staff — a stick
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mug — to rob
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. trunk — of a car

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