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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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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 · drill · temple · roll · scale · ruler · pit · shower

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  15. We're on a ________________ here.
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  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. pit — in a race
  2. drill — a practice
  3. scale — size or range
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. pitch — completely
  8. drill — army training
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. drill — the tool
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. shower — to wash
  15. roll — on a roll
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. roll — a cake
  18. scale — in music
  19. roll — a list
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. pit — a hole
  23. shower — rain
  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