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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: net · pitcher · game · safe · sharp · mouse · arm · toast

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. My father caught me by the ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  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. pitcher — in baseball
  2. game — a kind of play
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. net — for catching
  7. toast — bread
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. game — wild animals
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. game — a match
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. sharp — clever
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. net — after costs
  20. net — in sport
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. toast — the most admired
  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