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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cue · pop · bowl · nail · lie · chip · date · bark

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  10. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  19. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. chip — to eat
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. chip — for betting
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. bark — a dog's sound
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. date — on the calendar
  10. bark — to shout
  11. cue — for pool
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. pop — to visit
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. cue — a hint
  17. pop — soda
  18. bowl — a football final
  19. lie — to recline
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. date — the fruit
  23. pop — music
  24. cue — a signal

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