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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: safe · suit · board · hand · pit · fork · bulb · pitch

  1. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. I've got to change the light ________________.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  11. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — to eat with
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. pit — a hole
  4. bulb — for light
  5. suit — clothes
  6. board — a committee
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. pitch — a sports field
  9. suit — in cards
  10. pit — in a race
  11. fork — a garden tool
  12. bulb — for light
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. hand — help
  15. pitch — completely
  16. suit — to fit
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. pitch — a sales talk
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. fork — in a road
  22. hand — in cards
  23. board — to get on
  24. hand — 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