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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.

Make a worksheet

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: season · mug · chip · straw · lean · chair · object · arm

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. object — a thing
  4. chair — to sit on
  5. chip — to eat
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. mug — a cup
  8. lean — to bend
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. straw — to clutch at straws
  11. mug — to rob
  12. object — an aim
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. season — of the year
  15. lean — thin
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. object — to protest
  18. straw — dry grass
  19. mug — a face
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. straw — a straw man
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. season — in sport
  24. chair — a leader

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