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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 120 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: tube · foot · temple · pitch · scale · straw · track · nail

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I'll be taking the ________________.
  20. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. foot — a measure
  6. straw — dry grass
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. scale — in music
  12. track — a path
  13. pitch — completely
  14. tube — a container
  15. scale — size or range
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. tube — the underground
  20. track — a song
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. track — to keep track
  23. straw — a straw man
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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