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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.

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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: jam · squash · pit · temple · board · root · kick · march

  1. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  2. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.

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

Answer key

  1. temple — side of the head
  2. root — of a plant
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. kick — a thrill
  6. pit — in a race
  7. root — of a word
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. march — the month
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. kick — with a leg
  13. squash — the sport
  14. kick — in football
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. board — to get on
  17. march — music
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. root — the cause
  20. board — a committee
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. squash — to crush
  23. pit — a hole
  24. march — the month

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