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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: racket · ball · current · bear · safe · bowl · face · pitch

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. current — of water
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bear — the animal
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. ball — a dance
  7. current — happening now
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. face — to confront
  10. pitch — completely
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. current — electric
  15. face — part of the head
  16. bear — to put up with
  17. bear — the animal
  18. face — to point toward
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. ball — a great time
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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