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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.

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: safe · charge · pit · ball · racket · plane · mine · ruler

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. mine — for digging
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. charge — electricity
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. ball — a great time
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. plane — a tool
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. charge — a price
  17. ball — a dance
  18. charge — in control
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. pit — a hole
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. racket — for tennis

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