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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.

Make a worksheet

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: mark · board · net · chip · chair · mouse · spell · bowl

  1. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. net — after costs
  4. chip — for betting
  5. chip — to eat
  6. net — for catching
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. mark — a trace
  10. net — in sport
  11. mark — a grade
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. spell — letters
  15. spell — a short time
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. bowl — a dish
  18. board — a committee
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. board — to get on
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. chair — a professorship
  23. chair — a leader
  24. spell — magic

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