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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 116 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.

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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: chip · rush · bowl · mark · sharp · charge · ball · race

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  3. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  16. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. sharp — with an edge
  3. race — the arms race
  4. mark — a grade
  5. sharp — clever
  6. chip — for betting
  7. charge — electricity
  8. ball — a great time
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. ball — a round shape
  12. chip — to eat
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. charge — in control
  16. race — a contest
  17. ball — a dance
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. charge — a price
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. rush — hurry
  23. race — humankind
  24. bowl — a dish

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