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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: jam · toast · safe · rash · wave · perch · game · chest

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  9. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  14. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  15. That was a fun ________________.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. rash — on the skin
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. rash — hasty
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wave — of the sea
  9. toast — a drink to someone
  10. perch — the fish
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. toast — bread
  13. chest — a box
  14. chest — of your body
  15. game — a match
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. rash — a series
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. chest — of your body
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. game — wild animals
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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