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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. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  13. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  23. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. chip — to eat
  3. charge — electricity
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. content — the amount
  6. net — in sport
  7. fall — the season
  8. net — for catching
  9. bank — of a river
  10. press — newspapers
  11. charge — in control
  12. fall — to drop
  13. content — happy
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. bank — for money
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. net — after costs
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. charge — a price
  20. press — to push
  21. bank — for money
  22. press — a publisher
  23. content — videos and posts
  24. fall — to drop

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