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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 116 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: suit · rule · pass · dip · safe · wound · mine · chip

  1. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. This looks like a gunshot ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — to rule out
  2. rule — government
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. suit — clothes
  5. pass — to succeed
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. wound — an injury
  9. chip — for betting
  10. rule — a law
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. suit — in cards
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. wound — past of 'wind'
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. dip — to sink
  19. suit — to fit
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. mine — for digging
  22. chip — to eat
  23. pass — a permit
  24. wound — an injury

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