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

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  16. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. mate — to breed
  3. mug — to rob
  4. ground — a position
  5. chip — to eat
  6. hand — in cards
  7. chip — for betting
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bank — for money
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. pop — music
  15. ground — crushed
  16. hand — help
  17. bank — of a river
  18. pop — soda
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. mug — a face
  21. pop — to visit
  22. ground — the earth
  23. mate — a friend
  24. bank — for money

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