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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: arm · safe · can · pitcher · bass · charge · mate · foot

  1. Have you found your soul ________________?
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a partner
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. bass — low music
  4. charge — in control
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. can — a tin
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. charge — a price
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. bass — the fish
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. charge — electricity
  15. can — to be able to
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mate — a friend
  18. mate — to breed
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bass — the instrument
  22. can — a tin
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. foot — a measure

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