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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.

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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: club · row · current · pitch · sharp · safe · cue · plane

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  9. It's one o'clock ________________.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  14. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. current — happening now
  3. pitch — completely
  4. club — for dancing
  5. cue — a signal
  6. row — to paddle
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. row — a quarrel
  9. sharp — exactly
  10. row — a line
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. plane — a tool
  14. current — electric
  15. club — for golf
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. sharp — clever
  19. club — a group
  20. cue — for pool
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitch — a sports field
  23. current — of water
  24. cue — a hint

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