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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  7. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  10. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  17. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  18. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. Should I buy a wireless ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. root — the cause
  6. bat — the animal
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. current — of water
  9. current — electric
  10. pitch — a sales talk
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bat — for baseball
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. current — happening now
  16. root — of a plant
  17. root — of a word
  18. nail — on a finger
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. perch — the fish
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. mouse — for a computer

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