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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: pitch · bulb · lean · game · safe · face · sharp · firm

  1. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  2. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  3. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. That was a fun ________________.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. The light ________________ burned out.
  12. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — a company
  2. sharp — clever
  3. pitch — completely
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. game — a match
  6. firm — steady
  7. lean — thin
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. bulb — for light
  12. face — to confront
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. face — to point toward
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. game — wild animals
  18. face — part of the head
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. bulb — for light
  22. firm — decided
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. lean — to bend

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