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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 · toast · pass · hand · date · mug · wind · ground

  1. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  2. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. Where did you ________________ them?
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  20. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  21. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  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. date — on the calendar
  2. ground — the earth
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. mug — to rob
  5. hand — help
  6. chip — for betting
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. ground — crushed
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. pass — a permit
  11. wind — moving air
  12. toast — bread
  13. hand — in cards
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. wind — to turn a key
  16. ground — a position
  17. wind — moving air
  18. mug — a face
  19. date — the fruit
  20. hand — part of the body
  21. pass — to succeed
  22. mug — a cup
  23. date — on the calendar
  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