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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: pop · pitch · safe · track · pitcher · stand · hand · scale

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. I can't ________________ this cold.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. pitch — completely
  3. track — a song
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. stand — to bear
  6. scale — in music
  7. hand — help
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. pop — music
  10. track — a path
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. scale — size or range
  13. track — to keep track
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. hand — in cards
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. pop — to visit
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. pop — soda

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