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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
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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: safe · mug · staff · pound · cabinet · scale · stem · chair

  1. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a professorship
  2. mug — a face
  3. staff — employees
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. chair — a leader
  6. scale — size or range
  7. staff — a stick
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. stem — a stem cell
  11. mug — to rob
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. mug — a cup
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. staff — employees
  16. pound — a weight
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. stem — to come from
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. scale — in music
  24. chair — to sit on

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