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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: kick · wave · rush · last · stand · chip · safe · prune

  1. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  9. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  13. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  23. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. last — finally
  2. chip — for betting
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. rush — hurry
  8. kick — a thrill
  9. prune — to trim
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. last — final
  13. wave — of the sea
  14. chip — to eat
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. last — to go on
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. stand — to bear
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. prune — to trim
  23. wave — a sudden rise
  24. kick — in football

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