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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: suit · deal · net · fine · foot · ball · chip · hide

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  3. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. suit — in cards
  3. fine — high quality
  4. net — after costs
  5. net — for catching
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. foot — the bottom
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a dance
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. suit — to fit
  16. net — in sport
  17. deal — to handle
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. foot — a measure
  20. fine — all right
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. chip — to eat
  24. suit — clothes

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