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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: mug · mine · chip · temple · kid · face · degree · sharp

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. When was this ________________ built?
  20. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  23. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  24. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. chip — to eat
  4. face — to point toward
  5. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  6. mug — a cup
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. mine — for digging
  9. degree — an amount
  10. degree — temperature
  11. face — part of the head
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. face — to confront
  14. temple — side of the head
  15. chip — for betting
  16. mug — a face
  17. sharp — clever
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. degree — from a university
  21. mug — to rob
  22. kid — child
  23. temple — a place of worship
  24. kid — to tease

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