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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: racket · spell · mouse · bound · board · dip · plane · chip

  1. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. How do you ________________ your surname?
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — a loud noise
  2. chip — for betting
  3. bound — tied together
  4. dip — to sink
  5. spell — magic
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. dip — a sauce
  8. plane — a tool
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. spell — a short time
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. board — a committee
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. chip — to eat
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. spell — letters
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. board — to get on
  24. bound — certain

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