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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: chip · stand · pit · fine · rash · cap · rush · roll

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. pit — in a race
  3. cap — a hat
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. pit — a hole
  6. stand — to bear
  7. rash — a series
  8. roll — a cake
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. cap — a lid
  15. cap — of ice
  16. rash — hasty
  17. fine — high quality
  18. fine — all right
  19. fine — a penalty
  20. chip — to eat
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. rush — hurry
  23. chip — for betting
  24. stand — for spectators

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