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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 · hand · bulb · calf · ground · rash · rush · firm

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. chip — for betting
  4. ground — the earth
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. rash — a series
  9. bulb — for light
  10. bulb — for light
  11. firm — decided
  12. firm — a company
  13. chip — to eat
  14. hand — in cards
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. ground — a position
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. firm — steady
  19. rash — hasty
  20. hand — help
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. ground — crushed
  23. rush — hurry
  24. hand — part of the body

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