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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: foot · rule · rash · jam · plane · staff · cap · leaves

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. foot — part of the body
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. rule — government
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. rash — hasty
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. cap — a hat
  14. cap — a lid
  15. plane — a tool
  16. rash — on the skin
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. rule — a law
  19. staff — a stick
  20. rash — a series
  21. cap — of ice
  22. staff — employees
  23. foot — a measure
  24. jam — in traffic

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