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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
468
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: staff · safe · toast · spring · mark · tube · stock · temple

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. spring — of water
  3. mark — a trace
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. toast — bread
  6. staff — employees
  7. staff — a stick
  8. stock — shares
  9. stock — a soup base
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. mark — a grade
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. tube — the underground
  15. tube — a container
  16. spring — the season
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. staff — employees
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. stock — goods
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. mark — to pay attention

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