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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: rock · wake · safe · board · racket · bass · date · chip

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  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. rock — a stone
  2. rock — music
  3. board — a committee
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. date — the fruit
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. chip — for betting
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. chip — to eat
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. wake — a trail
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. bass — low music
  22. bass — the fish
  23. board — to get on
  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