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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: board · date · bound · tube · fine · chip · scale · stock

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. bound — tied together
  3. tube — the underground
  4. bound — certain
  5. scale — in music
  6. stock — shares
  7. bound — obliged
  8. scale — size or range
  9. board — to get on
  10. date — the fruit
  11. chip — for betting
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. tube — a container
  20. stock — goods
  21. fine — all right
  22. fine — high quality
  23. chip — to eat
  24. scale — for weighing

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