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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lash · game · safe · pass · pitch · can · saw · chair

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. That was a fun ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  17. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. pitch — a sports field
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. chair — a leader
  5. saw — the tool
  6. game — a match
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. pass — a permit
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. chair — to sit on
  14. can — a tin
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. pitch — a sales talk
  17. game — wild animals
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. saw — the tool
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. pitch — completely
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. can — a tin

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