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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: pitch · shower · track · face · cap · hide · prune · safe

  1. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. prune — the fruit
  2. shower — rain
  3. track — a path
  4. face — part of the head
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. prune — to trim
  7. track — to keep track
  8. track — a song
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. face — to point toward
  11. hide — animal skin
  12. cap — of ice
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pitch — a sports field
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. cap — a lid
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. shower — to wash
  19. pitch — completely
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. cap — a hat
  22. prune — to trim
  23. face — to confront
  24. shower — a meteor shower

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