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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
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: bulb · pit · cabinet · deal · bass · season · safe · chip

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. chip — for betting
  3. bass — the fish
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. pit — a hole
  7. chip — to eat
  8. bulb — for light
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bass — low music
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. season — in sport
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. pit — in a race
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. season — of the year
  21. deal — to handle
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. safe — a strongbox

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