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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: deal · saw · mouse · chip · cue · hand · mug · spell

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  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. chip — for betting
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. spell — a short time
  4. saw — the tool
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. spell — magic
  7. mug — a face
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. spell — letters
  10. mug — a cup
  11. hand — help
  12. deal — to handle
  13. cue — a signal
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cue — a hint
  18. saw — the tool
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. hand — part of the body
  23. hand — in cards
  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