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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
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 · pitch · ruler · prune · season · mate · mug · net

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. mug — a face
  4. net — after costs
  5. season — in sport
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. net — in sport
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. prune — to trim
  11. season — of the year
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. net — for catching
  14. pitch — completely
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. mate — to breed
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. mug — to rob
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. mug — a cup
  23. prune — to trim
  24. mate — a partner

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