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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
YesNo
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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: safe · pitch · trunk · ground · can · lean · arm · mouse

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  6. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. can — a tin
  5. trunk — of a tree
  6. pitch — a sales talk
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. ground — the earth
  11. lean — to bend
  12. ground — a position
  13. lean — thin
  14. trunk — of an elephant
  15. ground — crushed
  16. pitch — completely
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. can — to be able to
  20. can — a tin
  21. trunk — of a car
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. mouse — the animal

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