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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.

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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 · row · rest · coach · safe · object · ruler · deal

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. rest — what's left
  4. object — an aim
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. deal — a big deal
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. chip — for betting
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. object — to protest
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. chip — to eat
  15. object — a thing
  16. deal — to handle
  17. rest — a break
  18. rest — what's left
  19. row — to paddle
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. row — a line

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