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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.

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: pitch · safe · mouse · mug · game · spring · press · coach

  1. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. Did you ________________ the button?
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. spring — a coil
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. press — to push
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. mug — a cup
  9. spring — the season
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. game — wild animals
  12. game — a match
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. mug — to rob
  17. spring — of water
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. press — a publisher
  21. mug — a face
  22. press — newspapers
  23. pitch — completely
  24. safe — a strongbox

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