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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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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: swing · fan · mate · ruler · safe · kid · chip · foot

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  10. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. chip — to eat
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. swing — to play on
  5. swing — music
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. chip — for betting
  9. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  10. foot — a measure
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. mate — to breed
  14. swing — in golf
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. kid — to tease
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. mate — a friend
  23. kid — child
  24. mate — a partner

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