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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: pitch · plane · temple · current · land · object · ground · pop

  1. There's no middle ________________.
  2. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. When are we going to ________________?
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  24. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — a position
  2. plane — in geometry
  3. current — of water
  4. land — to come down
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. land — a country
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. land — ground
  9. plane — a tool
  10. ground — crushed
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. ground — the earth
  13. object — to protest
  14. current — happening now
  15. pitch — completely
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. pop — soda
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. pop — to visit
  20. current — electric
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. pop — music
  23. object — an aim
  24. object — a thing

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