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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: cue · pitch · safe · wave · chip · calf · vault · pitcher

  1. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. vault — in gymnastics
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. vault — an arched ceiling
  4. cue — a signal
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. vault — a safe
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. cue — a hint
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. pitch — a sports field
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. cue — for pool
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. chip — for betting
  23. chip — to eat
  24. pitch — completely

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