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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.

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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: band · scale · chip · safe · stock · lean · jam · key

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The ________________ market has crashed.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. chip — to eat
  5. stock — goods
  6. stock — a soup base
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. chip — for betting
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. key — for a lock
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lean — thin
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. stock — shares
  15. scale — in music
  16. band — a ring
  17. lean — to bend
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. band — a music group
  21. key — the most important part
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. key — in music
  24. scale — size or range

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