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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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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. Did you ________________ the meat?
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. tube — the underground
  4. branch — of a bank
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. trunk — of a car
  7. charge — a price
  8. season — in sport
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. season — of the year
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. season — to add flavour
  13. mate — a partner
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. charge — in control
  16. chip — to eat
  17. branch — a division
  18. trunk — of a tree
  19. charge — electricity
  20. tube — a container
  21. mate — to breed
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. mate — a friend

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