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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 116 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: rock · chip · season · hide · rash · field · safe · sharp

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  7. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  11. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rock — a stone
  6. sharp — with an edge
  7. field — a subject
  8. season — in sport
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. chip — to eat
  11. field — for sport
  12. rock — music
  13. sharp — clever
  14. rash — a series
  15. field — farmland
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. rash — hasty
  18. season — of the year
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. hide — to keep secret

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