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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 116 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: saw · object · leaves · season · current · safe · dip · chip

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. chip — for betting
  6. season — in sport
  7. season — of the year
  8. saw — the tool
  9. dip — a sauce
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. object — a thing
  14. saw — the tool
  15. dip — to sink
  16. chip — to eat
  17. current — happening now
  18. object — an aim
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. object — to protest
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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