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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: cabinet · temple · net · ground · mouse · pass · chip · pitch

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  13. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. chip — for betting
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. pass — to spend time
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. net — for catching
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. temple — side of the head
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. pass — a permit
  17. net — after costs
  18. net — in sport
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. ground — crushed
  21. pitch — completely
  22. ground — a position
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. mouse — the animal

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