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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: squash · spell · pitch · foot · pop · fine · temple · pit

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. When was this ________________ built?
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. squash — to crush
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. fine — high quality
  4. pit — in a race
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pop — soda
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. spell — magic
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. pop — music
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. foot — a measure
  16. squash — the sport
  17. fine — all right
  18. spell — letters
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. pit — a hole
  22. pop — to visit
  23. spell — a short time
  24. foot — part of the body

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