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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: suit · cabinet · board · rock · rush · sharp · chip · shower

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  16. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. shower — to wash
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. sharp — with an edge
  6. board — to get on
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. chip — to eat
  10. sharp — clever
  11. chip — for betting
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. rock — music
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. shower — rain
  16. suit — in cards
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — hurry
  19. rock — a stone
  20. suit — to fit
  21. cabinet — a cupboard
  22. suit — clothes
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. board — a committee

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