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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: bowl · spring · club · fine · present · bass · foot · chip

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  8. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. fine — high quality
  3. chip — for betting
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. foot — a measure
  7. club — a group
  8. club — for dancing
  9. spring — of water
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. present — a gift
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. bass — low music
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. club — for golf
  16. spring — the season
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. foot — the bottom
  19. fine — all right
  20. spring — a coil
  21. bass — the fish
  22. chip — to eat
  23. present — the time now
  24. present — there

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