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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: kick · craft · pitch · ball · temple · bore · scale · perch

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The King held a masked ________________.
  3. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  4. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  7. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. ball — a dance
  3. craft — a skill
  4. kick — in football
  5. bore — to drill
  6. craft — a handicraft
  7. temple — side of the head
  8. perch — the fish
  9. scale — size or range
  10. pitch — completely
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. bore — to tire
  13. scale — in music
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. craft — boats
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. ball — a great time
  22. kick — a thrill
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. scale — for weighing

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