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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
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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: suit · rash · rush · charge · land · game · dip · safe

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  6. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  13. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. When are we going to ________________?
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. That was a fun ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. charge — in control
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. dip — a sauce
  6. land — a country
  7. suit — in cards
  8. land — ground
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. suit — to fit
  12. rush — to hurry
  13. charge — electricity
  14. game — wild animals
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. rush — hurry
  18. land — to come down
  19. rash — a series
  20. rash — hasty
  21. game — a match
  22. charge — a price
  23. dip — to sink
  24. suit — clothes

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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