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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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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: roll · temple · cue · snap · mate · deal · chip · stand

  1. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  2. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a cake
  2. chip — to eat
  3. stand — to bear
  4. deal — to handle
  5. cue — for pool
  6. temple — side of the head
  7. cue — a hint
  8. snap — to speak sharply
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. snap — to click
  13. snap — to snap out of it
  14. mate — a friend
  15. chip — for betting
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. roll — a list
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. cue — a signal
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. mate — to breed
  24. mate — a partner

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