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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 116 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: content · stock · lie · chip · suit · pound · bore · game

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  9. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  16. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  17. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  22. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. suit — to fit
  4. chip — to eat
  5. chip — for betting
  6. suit — clothes
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. content — happy
  9. game — a kind of play
  10. stock — goods
  11. stock — shares
  12. bore — to drill
  13. content — the amount
  14. bore — to tire
  15. pound — for dogs
  16. pound — to hit hard
  17. pound — a weight
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. game — wild animals
  20. suit — in cards
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. stock — a soup base
  23. game — a match
  24. content — videos and posts

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