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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: bear · court · sharp · lash · can · staff · chip · safe

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. The ball is in your ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. can — a tin
  5. sharp — clever
  6. staff — employees
  7. lash — a whip stroke
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. bear — the animal
  11. staff — employees
  12. chip — to eat
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. court — of law
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. can — a tin
  18. staff — a stick
  19. bear — the animal
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. can — to be able to
  23. court — for sport
  24. court — of a king

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