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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: dip · temple · hand · pitcher · foot · current · root · pit

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  13. He is an ace ________________.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  17. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  22. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. hand — help
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. pit — a hole
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. root — of a word
  7. dip — to sink
  8. hand — in cards
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. hand — part of the body
  13. pitcher — in baseball
  14. pit — in a race
  15. foot — a measure
  16. dip — a sauce
  17. root — the cause
  18. current — electric
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. current — happening now
  21. root — of a plant
  22. current — of water
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. pitcher — a jug

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