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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: jam · capital · rock · kid · pitch · mug · mouse · safe

  1. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. capital — money
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. pitch — completely
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mug — a cup
  12. capital — a big letter
  13. rock — music
  14. capital — a city
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mug — a face
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. mug — to rob
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. rock — a stone
  21. kid — to tease
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. kid — child

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