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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.

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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: deal · ball · fall · bowl · lie · mate · chip · fine

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. chip — to eat
  5. fine — high quality
  6. lie — to recline
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. fall — to drop
  9. chip — for betting
  10. fine — all right
  11. ball — a great time
  12. mate — a partner
  13. fall — to drop
  14. mate — to breed
  15. fall — the season
  16. mate — a friend
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. ball — a dance
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. deal — to handle

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