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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: foot · pass · can · deal · stand · mark · nail · chip

  1. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. There's a computer ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — an agreement
  2. pass — a permit
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. chip — to eat
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. chip — for betting
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. mark — a grade
  13. stand — to bear
  14. can — a tin
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. foot — a measure
  19. mark — a trace
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. deal — to handle
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. chip — in a computer

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