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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: saw · perch · last · suit · charge · chip · object · roll

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. False peace will not ________________.
  20. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  21. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. last — finally
  3. roll — a cake
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. suit — in cards
  6. charge — a price
  7. suit — to fit
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. chip — to eat
  10. saw — the tool
  11. object — to protest
  12. charge — in control
  13. object — a thing
  14. suit — clothes
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. saw — the tool
  17. last — final
  18. charge — electricity
  19. last — to go on
  20. perch — the fish
  21. roll — a list
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. perch — for a bird
  24. object — an aim

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