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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.

Make a worksheet

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: lash · mine · charge · cabinet · chip · bass · hide · safe

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. The tickets are free of ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  9. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. charge — a price
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. chip — for betting
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. lash — to lash out
  9. hide — animal skin
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. charge — in control
  12. mine — for digging
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. chip — to eat
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bass — the fish
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. bass — low music
  22. charge — electricity
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. hide — to keep secret

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