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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: board · press · pitcher · date · pop · safe · chair · mine

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. You don't need to ________________ round.
  4. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  5. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Have you settled on a ________________?
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. pop — to visit
  4. press — newspapers
  5. mine — an explosive
  6. board — to get on
  7. chair — to sit on
  8. press — to push
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. date — the fruit
  11. pop — soda
  12. mine — belonging to me
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. press — a publisher
  15. chair — a leader
  16. pop — music
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. mine — for digging
  19. board — a committee
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. date — on the calendar
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. date — on the calendar

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