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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: safe · leaves · straw · lash · can · snap · mug · pitch

  1. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. mug — a face
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. can — to be able to
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. mug — to rob
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. snap — to click
  13. straw — to clutch at straws
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. pitch — a sales talk
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. pitch — completely
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. mug — a cup
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. can — a tin
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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