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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: chip · safe · scale · last · shower · foot · fine · lash

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. False peace will not ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. scale — in music
  5. shower — a meteor shower
  6. foot — a measure
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. fine — all right
  11. shower — rain
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. chip — for betting
  14. last — to go on
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. chip — to eat
  17. lash — an eyelash
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. last — final
  20. scale — size or range
  21. shower — to wash
  22. fine — high quality
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. last — finally

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