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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. rock — a stone
  9. cell — a phone
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. rock — music
  14. bulb — for light
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. pitch — completely
  24. cell — in biology

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