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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: mark · season · bass · safe · board · chip · nail · bound

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. season — of the year
  3. chip — to eat
  4. bass — low music
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bass — the fish
  14. mark — a trace
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. bound — tied together
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. board — to get on
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. season — in sport
  24. chip — for betting

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