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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.

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: bay · cell · bowl · chip · current · fine · mug · season

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. He was locked up in a ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  24. Let us try to swim against the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. mug — to rob
  3. current — happening now
  4. cell — a phone
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. cell — in biology
  7. chip — to eat
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. mug — a cup
  10. current — electric
  11. chip — for betting
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bowl — a dish
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. fine — high quality
  16. mug — a face
  17. cell — in a prison
  18. season — in sport
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. season — of the year
  21. fine — all right
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bay — to keep at bay
  24. current — of water

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