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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 120 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: stick · ball · mark · pitcher · bass · rest · safe · wake

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  21. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. wake — a trail
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. ball — a great time
  8. bass — low music
  9. bass — the fish
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. rest — what's left
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mark — a grade
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. ball — a dance
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. rest — what's left
  21. rest — a break
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. mark — a trace
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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