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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: saw · bowl · temple · face · pitch · foot · pass · jam

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  20. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. saw — the tool
  3. face — to confront
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. saw — the tool
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. face — to point toward
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. pass — a permit
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. foot — a measure
  19. face — part of the head
  20. pass — to succeed
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. temple — a place of worship

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