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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: chip · cabinet · patient · nail · stock · mug · mouse · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. The ________________ market has crashed.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mug — a cup
  3. chip — to eat
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. mug — a face
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. mug — to rob
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. chip — for betting
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. patient — a sick person
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. stock — shares
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. stock — goods
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. mouse — the animal

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