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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: rash · safe · mug · stem · board · rush · chip · ball

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. chip — to eat
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. chip — for betting
  7. mug — a face
  8. ball — a dance
  9. rash — a series
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. board — a flat piece
  13. board — a committee
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. stem — to come from
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. ball — a great time
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. mug — to rob
  21. rush — hurry
  22. mug — a cup
  23. board — to get on
  24. safe — out of danger

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