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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: toast · safe · cue · pitch · field · jam · kid · stick

  1. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  9. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  15. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. pitch — a sports field
  2. field — for sport
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. cue — for pool
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. pitch — completely
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. cue — a signal
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. field — farmland
  13. toast — bread
  14. kid — to tease
  15. field — a subject
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. cue — a hint
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. kid — child
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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