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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
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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: mug · bowl · jam · temple · chest · pit · ground · pop

  1. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He refilled his coffee ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — of your body
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. chest — of your body
  4. pit — a hole
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. ground — the earth
  7. ground — a position
  8. pop — music
  9. mug — a face
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. pit — in a race
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. ground — crushed
  14. pop — soda
  15. pop — to visit
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. chest — a box
  22. bowl — a dish
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. mug — a cup

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