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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: cell · pitch · arm · pitcher · ball · safe · cabinet · rest

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. He was locked up in a ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  11. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  17. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. cell — in a prison
  7. ball — a dance
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. rest — a break
  10. rest — what's left
  11. pitch — a sports field
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. cell — a phone
  17. pitch — a sales talk
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. pitch — completely
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. cell — in biology
  23. ball — a great time
  24. safe — out of danger

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