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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: bowl · safe · pitch · plane · track · dip · pitcher · sharp

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  12. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. plane — a tool
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. track — to keep track
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. track — a song
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. dip — to dunk
  12. pitch — a sports field
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. pitch — a sales talk
  15. sharp — clever
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. sharp — with an edge
  20. dip — to sink
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. track — a path
  23. pitch — completely
  24. safe — out of danger

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