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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: fine · plane · safe · pitch · lean · row · lie · mark

  1. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. The ________________ took off on time.
  20. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  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. pitch — completely
  2. row — to paddle
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. fine — all right
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. lean — thin
  11. fine — high quality
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. lean — to bend
  15. mark — a trace
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. plane — a tool
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. plane — an aircraft
  20. row — a line
  21. mark — a grade
  22. lie — to recline
  23. pitch — a sports field
  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