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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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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: toast · cue · bank · arm · chip · ruler · stock · date

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. Have you settled on a ________________?
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. The ________________ market has crashed.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. toast — the most admired
  6. cue — for pool
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. date — the fruit
  9. bank — of a river
  10. toast — bread
  11. bank — for money
  12. stock — goods
  13. cue — a signal
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. cue — a hint
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. date — on the calendar
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. chip — for betting
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. stock — shares
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. chip — to eat
  24. date — on the calendar

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