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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: ball · spell · file · bat · stand · pitch · temple · face

  1. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  19. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  22. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.

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

Answer key

  1. file — a document
  2. pitch — completely
  3. face — part of the head
  4. spell — a short time
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. bat — the animal
  12. ball — a great time
  13. file — a tool
  14. face — to point toward
  15. face — to confront
  16. file — a line of people
  17. stand — to bear
  18. stand — on your feet
  19. pitch — a sports field
  20. spell — letters
  21. bat — for baseball
  22. spell — magic
  23. ball — a dance
  24. bat — in an idiom

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