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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 120 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: prune · chip · suit · safe · bore · fall · rash · pitch

  1. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  3. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bore — to drill
  3. prune — the fruit
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pitch — a sports field
  6. bore — to tire
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. fall — to drop
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. suit — to fit
  11. chip — for betting
  12. fall — to drop
  13. suit — in cards
  14. prune — to trim
  15. fall — the season
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. prune — to trim
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. pitch — completely
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. chip — to eat
  23. rash — hasty
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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