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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: game · squash · board · mouse · chip · chair · safe · jam

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. game — a match
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. game — wild animals
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. squash — to crush
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. chip — to eat
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. board — a committee
  15. chair — a leader
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. squash — the sport
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. safe — a strongbox
  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