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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: pitch · rush · temple · spell · mate · toast · pop · plane

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. You don't need to ________________ round.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. How do you ________________ your surname?
  13. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  14. The ________________ took off on time.
  15. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. pop — music
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. pitch — completely
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. pop — to visit
  11. pop — soda
  12. spell — letters
  13. spell — magic
  14. plane — an aircraft
  15. plane — in geometry
  16. toast — bread
  17. spell — a short time
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. plane — a tool
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. mate — a partner
  24. mate — a friend

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