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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 120 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.

Make a worksheet

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: swing · chip · object · fan · capital · temple · saw · plane

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The ________________ took off on time.
  16. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  17. David sat on the ________________.
  18. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. plane — a tool
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. saw — the tool
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. capital — money
  10. object — to protest
  11. chip — to eat
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. object — an aim
  15. plane — an aircraft
  16. object — a thing
  17. swing — to play on
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. swing — music
  20. swing — in golf
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. capital — a city
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. temple — side of the head

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