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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: pit · stand · chip · coach · mark · scale · arm · temple

  1. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. mark — a trace
  7. scale — in music
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. chip — for betting
  10. scale — size or range
  11. mark — a grade
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. chip — to eat
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. stand — on your feet
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. stand — to bear
  23. pit — a hole
  24. pit — in a race

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