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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: rash · charge · present · chip · can · stem · swing · nail

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. The tickets are free of ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  20. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  23. David sat on the ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. chip — to eat
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. rash — hasty
  6. charge — a price
  7. present — there
  8. chip — in a computer
  9. charge — electricity
  10. can — a tin
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. can — to be able to
  14. swing — in golf
  15. rash — a series
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. chip — for betting
  19. present — a gift
  20. swing — music
  21. can — a tin
  22. stem — to come from
  23. swing — to play on
  24. charge — in control

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