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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: temple · chip · pitcher · file · mug · prune · pass · spell

  1. When was this ________________ built?
  2. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  4. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — a place of worship
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. file — a document
  4. pass — to spend time
  5. mug — a cup
  6. file — a line of people
  7. pass — a permit
  8. chip — to eat
  9. spell — magic
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. file — a tool
  12. mug — to rob
  13. spell — letters
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. chip — for betting
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. prune — to trim
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. mug — a face
  23. prune — to trim
  24. spell — a short time

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