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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: pop · hand · fine · rash · board · safe · bowl · perch

  1. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. You don't need to ________________ round.
  17. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — to roll
  2. hand — in cards
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. board — a committee
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. hand — part of the body
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. rash — a series
  11. pop — music
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. fine — high quality
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. pop — to visit
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. pop — soda
  19. rash — hasty
  20. hand — help
  21. perch — the fish
  22. board — to get on
  23. fine — all right
  24. fine — a penalty

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