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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: rest · lie · fan · safe · rock · trunk · cabinet · chip

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. We were using a ________________ as a seat.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. rock — to move gently
  6. rest — what's left
  7. rest — what's left
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. rock — music
  11. chip — for betting
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. trunk — of a car
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lie — to recline
  22. rest — a break
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. rock — a stone

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