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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.

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: charge · safe · spring · stand · vault · club · hand · chip

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  9. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  13. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. chip — to eat
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. charge — electricity
  5. spring — of water
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. spring — the season
  8. spring — a coil
  9. vault — a safe
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. hand — in cards
  13. club — a group
  14. chip — for betting
  15. club — for dancing
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. hand — help
  18. charge — in control
  19. charge — a price
  20. club — for golf
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. vault — in gymnastics
  24. stand — to bear

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