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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 116 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: bear · pitcher · stem · pitch · drill · rock · safe · cue

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  18. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  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. safe — a strongbox
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. drill — the tool
  4. rock — a stone
  5. cue — for pool
  6. drill — army training
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. drill — a practice
  13. bear — the animal
  14. pitch — completely
  15. stem — to come from
  16. rock — music
  17. stem — of a plant
  18. pitch — a sports field
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. stem — a stem cell
  21. cue — a signal
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bear — the animal
  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