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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
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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: track · arm · roll · board · pit · temple · press · stock

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. We're on a ________________ here.
  7. My father caught me by the ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. track — a path
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. roll — on a roll
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. press — to push
  10. roll — a list
  11. board — to get on
  12. stock — goods
  13. stock — shares
  14. press — a publisher
  15. track — a song
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. board — a committee
  18. track — to keep track
  19. roll — a cake
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. pit — in a race
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. press — newspapers
  24. pit — a hole

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