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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: swing · season · mate · pitch · hide · safe · pop · cue

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  5. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. pop — to visit
  3. cue — a hint
  4. pitch — a sports field
  5. mate — a friend
  6. cue — for pool
  7. season — of the year
  8. cue — a signal
  9. mate — a partner
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. pop — soda
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. swing — to play on
  16. swing — music
  17. pop — music
  18. season — in sport
  19. mate — to breed
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. swing — in golf

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