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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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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: mouse · cell · chair · temple · cap · stand · suit · mark

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  6. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  7. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. chair — to sit on
  4. suit — to fit
  5. cell — a phone
  6. chair — a leader
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. suit — clothes
  9. cell — in biology
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. mark — a grade
  14. cap — a lid
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. stand — to bear
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. suit — in cards
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. cap — of ice
  21. mark — a trace
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. cap — a hat

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