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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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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. When was this ________________ built?
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. pitch — completely
  3. saw — the tool
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. current — of water
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. last — finally
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. current — happening now
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. stand — to bear
  17. last — to go on
  18. saw — the tool
  19. current — electric
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. last — final
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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