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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 · cap · court · jam · ruler · field · pitch · staff

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  3. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. When was this ________________ built?
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. court — of a king
  3. staff — a stick
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. field — for sport
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. temple — a place of worship
  9. court — for sport
  10. cap — a lid
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. staff — employees
  14. pitch — completely
  15. cap — of ice
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. staff — employees
  18. court — of law
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. cap — a hat
  23. field — a subject
  24. field — farmland

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