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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: sharp · suit · stick · band · cabinet · chip · object · wax

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. It's one o'clock ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  16. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  17. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  18. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  19. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  24. The moon will ________________ and wane.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. object — to protest
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. band — a ring
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. suit — clothes
  8. chip — to eat
  9. band — a music group
  10. wax — for sculpting
  11. object — a thing
  12. suit — to fit
  13. sharp — exactly
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. sharp — with an edge
  16. object — an aim
  17. sharp — clever
  18. stick — a piece of wood
  19. stick — a piece of wood
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. suit — in cards
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. wax — in the ear
  24. wax — to grow

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