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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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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: chip · coach · safe · mark · bulb · nail · object · wake

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. I've got to change the light ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. chip — to eat
  3. object — a thing
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. mark — a grade
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. chip — for betting
  9. bulb — for light
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. object — an aim
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. object — to protest
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. bulb — for light
  22. mark — a trace
  23. wake — a trail
  24. mark — to pay attention

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