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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: pitcher · bulb · squash · root · bowl · pitch · saw · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  3. The light ________________ burned out.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. root — of a word
  3. bulb — for light
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. bulb — for light
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. root — of a plant
  11. root — the cause
  12. squash — the sport
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. pitch — completely
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. squash — to crush
  19. saw — the tool
  20. pitch — a sales talk
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. saw — the tool
  23. pitch — a sports field
  24. pitcher — a jug

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