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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 · mark · deal · rock · can · bear · bore · rash

  1. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bore — to drill
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — to eat
  7. deal — to handle
  8. rash — a series
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rock — music
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. can — a tin
  13. deal — an agreement
  14. rock — a stone
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bear — the animal
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. can — a tin
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bore — to tire
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. can — to be able to
  24. bear — to put up with

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