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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: content · foot · roll · suit · toast · stand · cap · temple

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  8. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We're on a ________________ here.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. stand — to bear
  4. foot — a measure
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. cap — of ice
  7. cap — a lid
  8. content — videos and posts
  9. suit — clothes
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. content — the amount
  17. cap — a hat
  18. content — happy
  19. suit — in cards
  20. roll — on a roll
  21. roll — a cake
  22. suit — to fit
  23. toast — bread
  24. roll — a list

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