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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: leaves · dip · bound · chip · roll · march · bowl · pit

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. We're on a ________________ here.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  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. pit — in a race
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. pit — a hole
  4. bound — certain
  5. dip — to sink
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. chip — to eat
  8. roll — a list
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. roll — on a roll
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. roll — a cake
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. march — the month
  17. march — music
  18. bound — tied together
  19. bound — obliged
  20. chip — for betting
  21. march — the month
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  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