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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: chip · board · bark · season · rush · scale · toast · bank

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. bank — for money
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. bark — to shout
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. bank — for money
  10. chip — for betting
  11. toast — bread
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. season — of the year
  14. scale — size or range
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. scale — in music
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. board — a committee
  19. board — to get on
  20. rush — hurry
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. season — in sport

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