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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.

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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: pitcher · object · march · straw · net · safe · bear · board

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. march — the month
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. march — music
  8. bear — the animal
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. net — in sport
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bear — the animal
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. board — to get on
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. net — after costs
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. board — a committee
  20. object — a thing
  21. march — the month
  22. object — to protest
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. object — an aim

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