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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.

Make a worksheet

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: nail · coach · charge · mine · pitch · toast · temple · bass

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  9. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The ________________ went through the wall.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. pitch — a sports field
  4. bass — low music
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. mine — for digging
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bass — the fish
  9. toast — the most admired
  10. pitch — completely
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. charge — electricity
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. charge — in control
  20. charge — a price
  21. toast — bread
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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