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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cell · sharp · chest · season · pitch · spell · cue · safe

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  19. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. pitch — completely
  3. spell — a short time
  4. spell — letters
  5. cue — for pool
  6. season — of the year
  7. season — in sport
  8. chest — a box
  9. sharp — clever
  10. cue — a hint
  11. cell — a phone
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. chest — of your body
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. spell — magic
  19. chest — of your body
  20. cue — a signal
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. season — to add flavour

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