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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: safe · pitcher · rock · mug · cue · saw · game · wind

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  22. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. mug — a cup
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. saw — the tool
  7. cue — a signal
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. wind — moving air
  10. game — a match
  11. mug — to rob
  12. cue — for pool
  13. rock — music
  14. cue — a hint
  15. mug — a face
  16. game — wild animals
  17. wind — moving air
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. game — a kind of play
  22. wind — to turn a key
  23. saw — the tool
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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