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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: bulb · net · firm · hide · pitch · pitcher · bank · sharp

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I've got to change the light ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. firm — decided
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. bulb — for light
  8. sharp — clever
  9. bank — for money
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. net — for catching
  13. bulb — for light
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. net — after costs
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. net — in sport
  18. firm — a company
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. firm — steady
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pitch — completely
  23. bank — for money
  24. hide — to keep secret

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