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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.

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: march · pitch · board · safe · mate · dip · bound · file

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  17. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. board — a committee
  3. file — a line of people
  4. dip — a sauce
  5. pitch — completely
  6. file — a tool
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — certain
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. march — the month
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. mate — a friend
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. file — a document
  16. mate — to breed
  17. march — the month
  18. bound — obliged
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. march — music
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. board — to get on
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. mate — a partner

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