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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: root · fine · mouse · nail · chip · safe · roll · hand

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. hand — in cards
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. root — of a plant
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. roll — a list
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. root — of a word
  10. roll — a cake
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. hand — help
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. chip — to eat
  16. chip — for betting
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. root — the cause
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. fine — high quality
  24. nail — for a hammer

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