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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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  12. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  13. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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. mark — a trace
  4. face — part of the head
  5. bank — of a river
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bank — for money
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. kid — to tease
  12. face — to point toward
  13. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  14. mark — a grade
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. branch — a division
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. kid — child
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bank — for money
  22. branch — of a tree
  23. face — to confront
  24. hide — animal skin

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