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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.

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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: capital · pitch · fine · mate · bank · mug · pound · temple

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. When was this ________________ built?
  13. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  17. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  23. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  24. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. mate — a partner
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. pitch — completely
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. bank — of a river
  7. mate — to breed
  8. fine — all right
  9. mate — a friend
  10. pound — a weight
  11. bank — for money
  12. temple — a place of worship
  13. mug — a cup
  14. mug — to rob
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. capital — a city
  17. pound — for dogs
  18. bank — for money
  19. pound — to hit hard
  20. mug — a face
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. capital — a big letter
  23. pitch — a sales talk
  24. capital — money

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