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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 120 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: chip · wind · can · foot · scale · charge · dip · board

  1. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The tickets are free of ________________.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. Where can I ________________ my mobile?

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

Answer key

  1. dip — a sauce
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. can — to be able to
  4. charge — a price
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. wind — to turn a key
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. chip — to eat
  10. board — to get on
  11. wind — moving air
  12. can — a tin
  13. can — a tin
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. dip — to sink
  16. charge — in control
  17. chip — for betting
  18. scale — in music
  19. board — a committee
  20. scale — size or range
  21. foot — a measure
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. wind — moving air
  24. charge — electricity

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