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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: hide · safe · dip · can · rash · sharp · court · pitch

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. Don't do anything ________________.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The ball is in your ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. rash — a series
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. court — of a king
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. rash — hasty
  8. can — a tin
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. can — a tin
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. pitch — completely
  15. can — to be able to
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. sharp — clever
  19. court — of law
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. court — for sport

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