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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 120 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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. He is an ace ________________.
  22. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. chip — to eat
  3. mate — a partner
  4. chip — for betting
  5. bound — certain
  6. ball — a great time
  7. pound — for dogs
  8. bank — of a river
  9. ball — a dance
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pound — a weight
  12. charge — electricity
  13. charge — in control
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bank — for money
  16. bound — obliged
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. bound — tied together
  19. charge — a price
  20. mate — to breed
  21. pitcher — in baseball
  22. mate — a friend
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. chip — in a computer

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