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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: tube · deal · bay · capital · leaves · dip · mate · chip

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  7. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  8. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. Have you found your soul ________________?
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. deal — to handle
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. capital — a city
  7. capital — a big letter
  8. chip — to eat
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. capital — money
  11. mate — a friend
  12. chip — for betting
  13. tube — a container
  14. dip — to sink
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. mate — to breed
  19. mate — a partner
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. tube — the underground
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. dip — to dunk

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