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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
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: snap · rash · rush · mine · lash · game · safe · pitch

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. snap — to snap out of it
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. mine — for digging
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. rash — a series
  10. rush — hurry
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. game — a match
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. mine — belonging to me
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. snap — to click
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. game — wild animals
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. lash — to lash out

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