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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.

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: pop · cue · chip · bass · perch · stand · rash · temple

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  10. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  11. When was this ________________ built?
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. We're almost out of ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. chip — to eat
  4. temple — a place of worship
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. cue — a signal
  7. chip — for betting
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. temple — side of the head
  10. rash — a series
  11. temple — a place of worship
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. cue — for pool
  14. pop — soda
  15. perch — the fish
  16. bass — the fish
  17. pop — to visit
  18. rash — hasty
  19. bass — low music
  20. cue — a hint
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. pop — music
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. stand — to bear

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