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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: deal · cue · bear · chip · firm · net · board · press

  1. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  4. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  7. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Did you ________________ the button?
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — decided
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. bear — the animal
  4. net — for catching
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. bear — the animal
  7. firm — steady
  8. cue — a signal
  9. press — to push
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. deal — to handle
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. board — to get on
  14. press — a publisher
  15. net — after costs
  16. firm — a company
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. chip — for betting
  19. net — in sport
  20. board — a committee
  21. chip — to eat
  22. press — newspapers
  23. cue — for pool
  24. cue — a hint

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