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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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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: bank · current · safe · toast · bore · pitch · perch · roll

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  13. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  21. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — completely
  2. pitch — a sales talk
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. perch — the fish
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. current — of water
  8. bore — to tire
  9. bank — for money
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. roll — a cake
  13. toast — the most admired
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — of a river
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. current — happening now
  20. bore — gave birth
  21. pitch — a sports field
  22. current — electric
  23. roll — a list
  24. toast — bread

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