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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.

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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: chip · rule · roll · saw · pitcher · bowl · rush · leaves

  1. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  2. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  3. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. We're on a ________________ here.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — of a tree
  2. rule — to rule out
  3. rule — government
  4. chip — to eat
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. roll — on a roll
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. saw — the tool
  14. rule — a law
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. roll — a list
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. roll — a cake
  19. bowl — a football final
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. rush — hurry
  22. chip — for betting
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. saw — the tool

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