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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · bark · field · ruler · board · mate · object · rush

  1. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  12. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. field — for sport
  2. chip — for betting
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mate — to breed
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bark — to shout
  10. board — a committee
  11. bark — of a tree
  12. chip — to eat
  13. object — a thing
  14. field — a subject
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. mate — a friend
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. field — farmland
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. object — an aim
  21. mate — a partner
  22. board — to get on
  23. object — to protest
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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