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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: jam · roll · saw · chip · game · rest · leaves · can

  1. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  19. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  24. That was a fun ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a kind of play
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. rest — a break
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. chip — for betting
  6. chip — to eat
  7. saw — the tool
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. can — a tin
  10. rest — what's left
  11. jam — a tight spot
  12. can — a tin
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. rest — what's left
  15. saw — the tool
  16. leaves — to go away
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. game — wild animals
  19. roll — a list
  20. can — to be able to
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. roll — a cake
  24. game — a match

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