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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 120 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: calf · rash · season · bound · safe · track · sharp · pitch

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. rash — a series
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. track — a path
  5. rash — hasty
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pitch — a sports field
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. bound — tied together
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. season — of the year
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bound — certain
  16. sharp — clever
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. track — a song
  19. track — to keep track
  20. pitch — completely
  21. season — in sport
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. sharp — exactly

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