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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: stem · ground · chip · rock · staff · safe · content · saw

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  10. There's no middle ________________.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  13. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. chip — to eat
  3. saw — the tool
  4. content — videos and posts
  5. staff — employees
  6. stem — of a plant
  7. ground — crushed
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. content — happy
  10. ground — a position
  11. rock — music
  12. stem — a stem cell
  13. ground — the earth
  14. staff — employees
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. staff — a stick
  17. rock — a stone
  18. saw — the tool
  19. stem — to come from
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. content — the amount
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. rock — to move gently

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