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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 120 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
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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: wake · pitch · vault · field · saw · bulb · safe · charge

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. I've got to change the light ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  7. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  10. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  14. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. bulb — for light
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. charge — electricity
  6. vault — an arched ceiling
  7. pitch — completely
  8. bulb — for light
  9. field — a subject
  10. field — for sport
  11. saw — the tool
  12. wake — a trail
  13. vault — a safe
  14. field — farmland
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. charge — a price
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. charge — in control
  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