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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: wake · nail · pitch · lash · patient · arm · season · safe

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  13. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. wake — a trail
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. season — of the year
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. season — in sport
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. patient — a sick person
  13. patient — calm and waiting
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. pitch — completely
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. wake — to stop sleeping
  24. safe — a strongbox

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