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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: hand · ball · deal · can · content · chip · safe · root

  1. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. chip — for betting
  3. can — a tin
  4. root — of a plant
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. deal — to handle
  8. chip — to eat
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. root — of a word
  11. can — to be able to
  12. content — the amount
  13. ball — a great time
  14. content — happy
  15. hand — help
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. can — a tin
  18. root — the cause
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. hand — in cards
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. ball — a dance

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