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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. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. net — in sport
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. coach — pulled by horses
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. net — after costs
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. rock — music
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. net — for catching
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. pitch — completely

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