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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: chip · spring · nail · jam · spell · rash · bowl · mouse

  1. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. How do you ________________ your surname?
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  20. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  21. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — magic
  2. chip — for betting
  3. spell — a short time
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rash — a series
  6. jam — in traffic
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. spring — a coil
  11. spell — letters
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. chip — to eat
  20. spring — the season
  21. jam — to spread on bread
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. spring — 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