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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: shower · can · chip · fan · cabinet · safe · board · face

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  21. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  22. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. face — to point toward
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. can — a tin
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. chip — for betting
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. board — a committee
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. shower — a meteor shower
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. face — part of the head
  16. can — a tin
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. chip — to eat
  20. face — to confront
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. shower — rain
  23. shower — to wash
  24. board — to get on

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