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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: fork · safe · pass · firm · stock · date · chip · deal

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  3. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Have you settled on a ________________?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  14. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  15. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. fork — to eat with
  3. pass — to succeed
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. firm — a company
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. deal — to handle
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. pass — a permit
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. pass — to spend time
  14. fork — in a road
  15. fork — a garden tool
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. firm — decided
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. stock — goods
  20. date — the fruit
  21. chip — to eat
  22. stock — shares
  23. chip — for betting
  24. firm — steady

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