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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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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: squash · pitcher · cue · temple · lash · bowl · pit · root

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. When was this ________________ built?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  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. pitcher — a jug
  2. cue — a signal
  3. root — of a word
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. cue — for pool
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. cue — a hint
  10. lash — to lash out
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. squash — to crush
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. pit — in a race
  16. squash — the sport
  17. root — of a plant
  18. pit — a hole
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. bowl — a dish
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. root — the cause
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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