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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  7. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  8. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. The tickets are free of ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. chip — to eat
  3. object — an aim
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. object — a thing
  7. charge — in control
  8. object — to protest
  9. branch — a division
  10. branch — of a tree
  11. charge — electricity
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. charge — a price
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. chip — for betting

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