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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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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: patient · temple · swing · rash · net · pit · mark · club

  1. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  2. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  3. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. David sat on the ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  20. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  24. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.

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

Answer key

  1. swing — music
  2. club — for golf
  3. pit — a fruit stone
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. mark — a grade
  6. club — a group
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. net — in sport
  9. net — after costs
  10. swing — to play on
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. mark — a trace
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. club — for dancing
  16. pit — in a race
  17. swing — in golf
  18. net — for catching
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. pit — a hole
  21. rash — a series
  22. rash — hasty
  23. temple — side of the head
  24. patient — calm and waiting

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