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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: temple · board · pitcher · squash · pit · net · leaves · coach

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. When was this ________________ built?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. pit — a hole
  4. board — a committee
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. net — in sport
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. board — to get on
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. net — for catching
  13. temple — a place of worship
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. net — after costs
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. squash — the sport
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. pit — in a race
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. squash — to crush

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