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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: saw · bore · chip · bound · kick · pitcher · cabinet · bay

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  16. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. kick — in football
  3. chip — for betting
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. bore — gave birth
  10. bound — obliged
  11. saw — the tool
  12. bore — to tire
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. chip — in a computer
  16. kick — a thrill
  17. bore — to drill
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. chip — to eat
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — certain
  24. bay — a part of the sea

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