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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: deal · temple · drill · bark · foot · present · staff · wake

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. drill — the tool
  3. staff — employees
  4. present — the time now
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. staff — employees
  8. wake — a trail
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. drill — a practice
  11. staff — a stick
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. foot — a measure
  17. drill — army training
  18. present — a gift
  19. present — there
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. wake — to stop sleeping
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. bark — to shout

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