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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: date · temple · squash · bound · lash · track · pitch · pass

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. pass — a permit
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. pitch — completely
  7. date — the fruit
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. track — a path
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. bound — tied together
  12. squash — the sport
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. bound — obliged
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. track — to keep track
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. squash — to crush
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. track — a song

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