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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: swing · leaves · safe · chip · fine · calf · rash · fork

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. David sat on the ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. swing — in golf
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. fork — in a road
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. fine — all right
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. calf — of the leg
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. chip — for betting
  12. rash — a series
  13. swing — music
  14. fork — to eat with
  15. rash — hasty
  16. fine — high quality
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. chip — to eat
  20. swing — to play on
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. safe — out of danger

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