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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.

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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: pitch · spell · wax · racket · safe · firm · scale · bay

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. firm — a company
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. scale — size or range
  7. wax — to grow
  8. spell — letters
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. spell — magic
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. pitch — completely
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. scale — in music
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. firm — steady
  22. bay — to keep at bay
  23. firm — decided
  24. pitch — a sales talk

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