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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
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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: staff · bore · can · chip · spring · fine · suit · ball

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. chip — for betting
  4. spring — a coil
  5. fine — high quality
  6. bore — to tire
  7. staff — a stick
  8. suit — in cards
  9. can — a tin
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. suit — clothes
  12. spring — the season
  13. spring — of water
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. chip — to eat
  18. ball — a dance
  19. staff — employees
  20. fine — all right
  21. staff — employees
  22. bore — to drill
  23. suit — to fit
  24. ball — a great time

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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