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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: temple · net · pitcher · stand · deal · roll · pit · ruler

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. When was this ________________ built?
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. deal — to handle
  3. pit — in a race
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. net — in sport
  6. pit — a hole
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. roll — a cake
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. net — after costs
  14. stand — to bear
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. roll — a list
  17. net — for catching
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pitcher — a jug

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