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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.

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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: stand · net · chip · foot · fan · hand · content · safe

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  4. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. hand — in cards
  5. chip — for betting
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. content — happy
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. stand — on your feet
  13. chip — to eat
  14. net — in sport
  15. foot — a measure
  16. stand — to bear
  17. net — for catching
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. net — after costs
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. hand — help
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. content — the amount

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