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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: roll · fall · safe · ball · jam · pass · season · chip

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Did you ________________ the meat?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. chip — to eat
  3. season — to add flavour
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. season — in sport
  8. fall — the season
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. chip — for betting
  13. fall — to drop
  14. pass — to spend time
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. pass — a permit
  19. roll — a cake
  20. fall — to drop
  21. ball — a great time
  22. season — of the year
  23. ball — a dance
  24. jam — in traffic

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