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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: nail · staff · rush · firm · chip · scale · cue · arm

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. firm — a company
  5. firm — decided
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. nail — on a finger
  9. staff — employees
  10. staff — employees
  11. scale — in music
  12. chip — for betting
  13. cue — for pool
  14. firm — steady
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. staff — a stick
  18. scale — for weighing
  19. cue — a hint
  20. scale — size or range
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. cue — a signal
  24. chip — in a computer

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