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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: sharp · fine · scale · chip · board · club · jam · mouse

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  23. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. club — for dancing
  4. fine — high quality
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. scale — in music
  8. club — for golf
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. board — a committee
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. mouse — for a computer
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. chip — for betting
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. chip — to eat
  19. fine — all right
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. board — to get on
  22. sharp — clever
  23. club — a group
  24. mouse — the animal

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