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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: mug · game · safe · lash · mine · chip · rash · rock

  1. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  11. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. rock — a stone
  4. chip — to eat
  5. rash — hasty
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. mine — for digging
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. mug — a cup
  10. mug — a face
  11. mine — an explosive
  12. mug — to rob
  13. lash — a whip stroke
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. rash — a series
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. game — a match
  18. game — wild animals
  19. rock — music
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. chip — for betting
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. game — a kind of play

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