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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 120 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: can · capital · rock · fan · chip · bear · suit · arm

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  23. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. capital — a big letter
  4. chip — for betting
  5. bear — the animal
  6. suit — to fit
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — to be able to
  10. capital — money
  11. suit — in cards
  12. chip — to eat
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. suit — clothes
  15. bear — the animal
  16. can — a tin
  17. rock — a stone
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. rock — music
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. chip — in a computer
  23. capital — a city
  24. arm — 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