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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
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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: hide · game · rest · shower · chip · racket · staff · temple

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  16. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  17. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. staff — employees
  3. shower — rain
  4. staff — employees
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. staff — a stick
  8. rest — what's left
  9. shower — to wash
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. rest — what's left
  12. chip — for betting
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. game — a kind of play
  18. rest — a break
  19. chip — to eat
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. game — wild animals
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. game — a match

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