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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: chip · pitch · tube · vault · wound · pit · jam · temple

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. When was this ________________ built?
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  17. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  20. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. tube — the underground
  6. tube — a container
  7. pit — in a race
  8. vault — in gymnastics
  9. pit — a hole
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. chip — to eat
  15. pitch — completely
  16. wound — an injury
  17. tube — in a tire
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. wound — past of 'wind'
  20. vault — a safe
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. chip — for betting
  24. wound — an injury

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