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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: plane · chip · deal · rule · can · ball · roll · date

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. Have you settled on a ________________?
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  10. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  11. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  12. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. The ________________ took off on time.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. roll — a list
  4. date — on the calendar
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. deal — to handle
  7. can — to be able to
  8. ball — a dance
  9. roll — a cake
  10. can — a tin
  11. rule — a law
  12. date — on the calendar
  13. chip — for betting
  14. rule — government
  15. plane — a tool
  16. date — the fruit
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. plane — an aircraft
  19. ball — a great time
  20. can — a tin
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. plane — in geometry

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