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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: content · pitcher · ruler · chip · stem · rush · hand · board

  1. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  2. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  15. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Check the label for the sugar ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — to eat
  2. content — videos and posts
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. chip — for betting
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. stem — of a plant
  10. rush — hurry
  11. stem — to come from
  12. hand — help
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. chip — in a computer
  15. ruler — a monarch
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. content — happy
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. board — a committee
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. hand — in cards
  23. board — to get on
  24. content — the amount

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