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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. ground — the earth
  3. suit — in cards
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. wound — past of 'wind'
  8. chip — for betting
  9. net — for catching
  10. wound — an injury
  11. ground — a position
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. suit — clothes
  15. board — to get on
  16. ground — crushed
  17. wound — an injury
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. board — a committee
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. net — in sport
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. chip — to eat
  24. net — after costs

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