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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.

Make a worksheet

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: saw · pitcher · row · lash · root · safe · coach · bass

  1. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. bass — the fish
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. lash — to lash out
  5. root — of a plant
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. saw — the tool
  10. saw — the tool
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. root — the cause
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. row — a quarrel
  20. bass — low music
  21. root — of a word
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. row — a line
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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