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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: spell · chip · net · roll · calf · bore · bowl · lash

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  16. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. roll — a list
  5. roll — a cake
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. net — for catching
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. bore — to drill
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. spell — magic
  13. spell — letters
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. net — after costs
  16. spell — a short time
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. chip — to eat
  21. bore — to tire
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. net — in sport

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