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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 120 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: firm · spell · hand · wound · game · fine · chip · safe

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. spell — letters
  3. fine — all right
  4. hand — in cards
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. spell — a short time
  9. fine — high quality
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. hand — help
  13. chip — for betting
  14. chip — to eat
  15. spell — magic
  16. firm — decided
  17. firm — steady
  18. firm — a company
  19. wound — an injury
  20. wound — an injury
  21. game — wild animals
  22. game — a match
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. safe — out of danger

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