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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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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: mark · court · mouse · staff · dip · temple · pop · band

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. mark — a grade
  4. band — a music group
  5. staff — a stick
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. band — a ring
  9. pop — music
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. court — of a king
  14. dip — a sauce
  15. pop — to visit
  16. court — of law
  17. staff — employees
  18. court — for sport
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. staff — employees
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mark — a trace
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pop — soda

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