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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: date · safe · net · face · chip · rock · prune · wound

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Have you settled on a ________________?
  7. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  11. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. date — on the calendar
  4. face — part of the head
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. wound — an injury
  8. net — for catching
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. rock — a stone
  11. prune — to trim
  12. rock — music
  13. face — to confront
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. wound — an injury
  19. chip — for betting
  20. date — the fruit
  21. net — in sport
  22. prune — to trim
  23. face — to point toward
  24. net — after costs

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