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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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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: chip · current · stick · leaves · cell · safe · coach · chair

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. He was locked up in a ________________.
  24. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. cell — in biology
  4. cell — a phone
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — to eat
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. chair — to sit on
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. chair — a leader
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. current — electric
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. current — happening now
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. current — of water
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. cell — in a prison
  24. stick — to attach or keep to

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