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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.

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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: lash · foot · mouse · board · season · deal · band · chip

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. board — a committee
  4. band — a ring
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. chip — for betting
  7. board — to get on
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. season — of the year
  10. season — in sport
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. lash — to lash out
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. band — a music group
  17. foot — a measure
  18. deal — to handle
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. chip — to eat
  24. lash — a whip stroke

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