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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: bass · pitcher · jam · pop · calf · hide · race · safe

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  3. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. You don't need to ________________ round.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. race — humankind
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. calf — a young animal
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. bass — low music
  9. jam — a tight spot
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. race — a contest
  18. bass — the fish
  19. pop — to visit
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. pop — soda
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. pop — music

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