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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: safe · bulb · coach · cabinet · rush · chip · racket · deal

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Have you met the new head ________________?
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. bulb — for light
  3. racket — for tennis
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. rush — hurry
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. bulb — for light
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. chip — to eat
  20. chip — for betting
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. deal — to handle

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