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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: clip · mug · chip · fine · bowl · mouse · stand · branch

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  16. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  22. I can't ________________ this cold.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. chip — for betting
  5. fine — high quality
  6. clip — to cut
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. fine — all right
  9. branch — a division
  10. stand — for spectators
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. mug — a face
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. branch — of a bank
  16. clip — for paper
  17. mug — to rob
  18. bowl — a dish
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. chip — to eat
  21. clip — a video
  22. stand — to bear
  23. mug — a cup
  24. bowl — to roll

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