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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: chip · rock · temple · pit · tube · saw · staff · sharp

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. sharp — clever
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. pit — in a race
  7. rock — music
  8. temple — side of the head
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — a stick
  11. staff — employees
  12. pit — a hole
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. chip — for betting
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. chip — to eat
  19. tube — the underground
  20. rock — a stone
  21. tube — a container
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. chip — in a computer
  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