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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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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: deal · squash · racket · hide · safe · kick · pitcher · toast

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. kick — in football
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. hide — animal skin
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. squash — to crush
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. deal — to handle
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. toast — bread
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. squash — the sport
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. safe — out of danger

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