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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: pitcher · rock · pass · stick · rest · safe · row · game

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. rest — what's left
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. game — a match
  7. row — a line
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. rock — music
  10. rest — a break
  11. game — wild animals
  12. pass — a permit
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. row — to paddle
  15. pass — to succeed
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. rock — a stone
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. rest — what's left
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. game — a kind of play
  24. safe — a strongbox

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