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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.

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: chip · sharp · ball · safe · bark · charge · spring · bay

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. The tickets are free of ________________.
  18. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. chip — for betting
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. chip — to eat
  6. sharp — clever
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bark — to shout
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. sharp — with an edge
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. ball — a dance
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. charge — a price
  18. spring — a coil
  19. spring — the season
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. spring — of water
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. charge — in control
  24. charge — electricity

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