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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: bulb · cabinet · leaves · arm · pitch · temple · mine · cue

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bulb — for light
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. cue — for pool
  10. cue — a hint
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. mine — for digging
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. arm — a part of something
  17. cue — a signal
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. pitch — completely
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. bulb — for light
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. leaves — lets stay

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