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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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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: saw · foot · snap · pass · pitch · wave · safe · last

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. You can't go backstage without a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. foot — a measure
  4. last — finally
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. snap — to click
  11. last — final
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pitch — completely
  14. saw — the tool
  15. wave — with your hand
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. last — to go on
  18. saw — the tool
  19. wave — a sudden rise
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. snap — to speak sharply
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. pass — a permit

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