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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.

Make a worksheet

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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  3. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  7. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. calf — of the leg
  3. branch — of a tree
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. board — to get on
  6. branch — of a bank
  7. staff — employees
  8. bass — low music
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. bass — the fish
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. chip — to eat
  14. toast — bread
  15. staff — a stick
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. wound — an injury
  19. board — a committee
  20. branch — a division
  21. wound — an injury
  22. staff — employees
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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