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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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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: perch · pitch · jam · fan · roll · temple · bay · patient

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  4. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. temple — side of the head
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. roll — a cake
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. roll — a list
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. pitch — completely
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. perch — the fish
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. temple — a place of worship

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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