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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: club · can · row · lie · dip · pitcher · safe · stand

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. row — a quarrel
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. club — for golf
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. can — to be able to
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. row — a line
  13. row — to paddle
  14. club — a group
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. stand — to bear
  17. can — a tin
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. club — for dancing
  20. dip — to sink
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. can — a tin
  23. lie — to recline
  24. safe — out of danger

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