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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: pitch · safe · march · rush · pitcher · prune · ball · key

  1. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  2. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  15. That must've been a ________________.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  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. march — music
  2. march — the month
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. key — in music
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. march — the month
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. key — the most important part
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. rush — hurry
  14. key — for a lock
  15. rush — a thrill
  16. ball — a great time
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. ball — a dance
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. prune — to trim
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. prune — to trim
  23. pitch — completely
  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