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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: jam · chip · staff · racket · temple · arm · band · lie

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  20. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. chip — for betting
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. chip — to eat
  12. lie — to recline
  13. band — a ring
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. staff — a stick
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. band — a music group
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. staff — employees
  24. arm — a part of something

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