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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: toast · row · rest · swing · bulb · safe · pitch · stock

  1. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. David sat on the ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sales talk
  2. rest — what's left
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. row — to paddle
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. swing — in golf
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. stock — goods
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. swing — to play on
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. rest — what's left
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. rest — a break
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. pitch — completely
  19. row — a line
  20. toast — bread
  21. stock — shares
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — for light
  24. swing — music

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