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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 always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. track — to keep track
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitch — completely
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. track — a path
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. track — a song
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. hand — in cards
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. hand — help
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. arm — a part of something
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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