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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
468
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: mark · current · arm · scale · temple · hide · pitch · patient

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. pitch — completely
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. scale — size or range
  6. mark — a trace
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. current — electric
  12. scale — in music
  13. current — happening now
  14. current — of water
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. mark — a grade
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. pitch — a sports field

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