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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: deal · perch · club · chip · bark · current · cabinet · pitcher

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bark — a dog's sound
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. perch — for a bird
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. bark — to shout
  8. current — electric
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. club — a group
  12. club — for golf
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. current — happening now
  16. perch — for a bird
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. deal — to handle
  19. club — for dancing
  20. perch — the fish
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. chip — to eat
  24. current — of water

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