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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.

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: rash · season · chip · cabinet · temple · pitch · tube · rule

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Did you ________________ the meat?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  24. I'll be taking the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. chip — for betting
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. season — in sport
  6. rule — government
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. tube — a container
  9. rule — to rule out
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. rash — a series
  12. chip — to eat
  13. season — to add flavour
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. season — of the year
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. rash — hasty
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. pitch — completely
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. rule — a law
  24. tube — the underground

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