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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.

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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: calf · chip · season · snap · fan · bass · pitcher · temple

  1. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  2. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the fish
  2. bass — low music
  3. snap — to click
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. season — in sport
  7. season — of the year
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. snap — to snap out of it
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. chip — for betting
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. chip — to eat

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