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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: bank · safe · can · pit · pop · pitch · rash · stem

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. can — a tin
  3. rash — hasty
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. can — a tin
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. can — to be able to
  8. bank — for money
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. pop — to visit
  16. rash — a series
  17. pit — a hole
  18. bank — of a river
  19. pitch — completely
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pop — soda
  22. stem — to come from
  23. pit — in a race
  24. bank — for money

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