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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: ground · lash · scale · chip · can · drill · perch · spell

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. drill — a practice
  4. can — to be able to
  5. lash — an eyelash
  6. drill — army training
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. perch — the fish
  9. drill — the tool
  10. spell — a short time
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. spell — magic
  13. ground — a position
  14. scale — for weighing
  15. can — a tin
  16. scale — in music
  17. scale — size or range
  18. ground — crushed
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. spell — letters
  21. ground — the earth
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. can — a tin
  24. chip — to eat

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