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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.

Make a worksheet

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: temple · suit · chair · lash · fine · staff · season · calf

  1. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  21. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. When was this ________________ built?

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. fine — all right
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. suit — clothes
  9. staff — a stick
  10. lash — a whip stroke
  11. suit — to fit
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. suit — in cards
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. staff — employees
  16. season — in sport
  17. fine — high quality
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. fine — a penalty
  21. chair — a leader
  22. staff — employees
  23. season — of the year
  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