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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. Where did you ________________ them?
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. cue — a hint
  16. mug — a cup
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. hand — in cards
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cue — a signal
  22. mug — to rob
  23. perch — the fish
  24. mug — a face

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