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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.

Make a worksheet

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: arm · safe · hand · mouse · bay · fan · lie · pitch

  1. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. pitch — completely
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. hand — in cards
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. hand — help
  9. lie — to recline
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. arm — a part of something
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pitch — a sales talk
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. arm — part of the body

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