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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: saw · cabinet · sharp · charge · temple · craft · staff · dip

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. dip — to sink
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. dip — to dunk
  6. sharp — clever
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. staff — employees
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. craft — a handicraft
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. saw — the tool
  13. charge — a price
  14. charge — electricity
  15. staff — employees
  16. craft — boats
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. craft — a skill
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. staff — a stick
  22. charge — in control
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. saw — the tool

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