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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · stick · net · coach · temple · firm · date · press

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  5. Have you settled on a ________________?
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. firm — decided
  3. date — the fruit
  4. net — in sport
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. press — newspapers
  7. firm — steady
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. net — after costs
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. foot — a measure
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. press — to push
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. firm — a company
  20. net — for catching
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. press — a publisher
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. temple — a place of worship

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