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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: safe · lean · suit · pitcher · cabinet · chip · patient · pop

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. He is an ace ________________.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  6. We're almost out of ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. pitcher — in baseball
  3. lean — to bend
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. pop — soda
  7. lean — thin
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pop — music
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. suit — clothes
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. chip — for betting
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. suit — in cards
  22. pop — to visit
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. suit — to fit

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