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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 116 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: scale · safe · pitch · mug · rock · cap · mate · bay

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. mug — a cup
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. pitch — completely
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. rock — a stone
  8. scale — for weighing
  9. mate — a partner
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. mate — to breed
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. cap — a lid
  17. mug — a face
  18. mate — a friend
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. mug — to rob
  21. rock — music
  22. scale — in music
  23. cap — of ice
  24. cap — a hat

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