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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: cue · safe · chip · shower · rush · wake · board · fine

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. shower — rain
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. cue — a hint
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fine — high quality
  7. cue — a signal
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. wake — a trail
  10. rush — hurry
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. board — a committee
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. board — to get on
  16. shower — a meteor shower
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. fine — all right
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. chip — to eat
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. shower — to wash
  24. cue — for pool

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