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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 120 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: foot · fine · staff · snap · stand · press · temple · ground

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Did you ________________ the button?
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  14. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  15. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. press — to push
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. staff — employees
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. staff — employees
  7. stand — to bear
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. snap — to snap out of it
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. stand — on your feet
  12. ground — the earth
  13. foot — part of the body
  14. press — newspapers
  15. press — a publisher
  16. snap — to click
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. foot — a measure
  19. fine — high quality
  20. snap — to speak sharply
  21. staff — a stick
  22. ground — a position
  23. ground — crushed
  24. fine — all right

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