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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: bulb · foot · bound · perch · pitch · rush · saw · safe

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. bound — obliged
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. bound — tied together
  6. pitch — a sports field
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. saw — the tool
  10. bulb — for light
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. bound — certain
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. perch — the fish
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. foot — a measure
  23. rush — hurry
  24. saw — the tool

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