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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: racket · game · prune · wave · season · board · rock · chip

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  9. That was a fun ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  16. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. wave — a sudden rise
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. racket — a loud noise
  7. prune — to trim
  8. season — in sport
  9. game — a match
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. rock — a stone
  12. game — wild animals
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. game — a kind of play
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. chip — for betting
  20. board — to get on
  21. rock — music
  22. season — of the year
  23. chip — to eat
  24. prune — to trim

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