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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 120 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 · suit · fan · coach · land · nail · pitch · chip

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The ________________ went through the wall.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. pitch — completely
  4. suit — in cards
  5. chip — for betting
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. chip — to eat
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. suit — to fit
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. suit — clothes
  18. land — to come down
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. land — a country
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. land — ground

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