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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: clip · perch · date · wound · board · chip · bore · safe

  1. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Have you settled on a ________________?
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. wound — an injury
  3. perch — the fish
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. bore — to drill
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. board — a committee
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. chip — for betting
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. clip — a video
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. board — to get on
  15. clip — for paper
  16. clip — to cut
  17. chip — to eat
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. date — the fruit
  24. bore — to tire

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