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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: game · fan · can · ball · chip · key

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. This piece is in a major ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. game — wild animals
  3. can — a tin
  4. chip — to eat
  5. can — to be able to
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. key — for a lock
  8. game — a match
  9. key — in music
  10. can — a tin
  11. game — a kind of play
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. key — the most important part
  17. chip — for betting
  18. ball — a great time

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