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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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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 is an ace ________________.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. firm — steady
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. stand — for spectators
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. stand — to bear
  13. firm — a company
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. rush — hurry
  18. firm — decided
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. pitch — completely
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. hide — to keep secret

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