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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: craft · leaves · rush · swing · temple · mouse · chip · cap

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  3. David sat on the ________________.
  4. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  18. When was this ________________ built?
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. temple — side of the head
  3. swing — to play on
  4. craft — boats
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cap — of ice
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. craft — a handicraft
  12. chip — to eat
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. swing — music
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. cap — a hat
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. craft — a skill
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. swing — in golf

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