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

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  20. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. 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. fine — all right
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. suit — to fit
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. kick — in football
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. suit — clothes
  11. chip — to eat
  12. fine — high quality
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. suit — in cards
  17. fine — a penalty
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. kick — with a leg
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. 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