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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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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: chip · board · deal · coach · net · scale · safe · prune

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. scale — size or range
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. scale — for weighing
  6. chip — for betting
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. chip — to eat
  11. board — a committee
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. prune — to trim
  14. scale — in music
  15. deal — to handle
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. net — for catching
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. net — in sport
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. prune — to trim
  22. board — to get on
  23. net — after costs
  24. deal — an agreement

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