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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: can · dip · chip · rush · drill · cue · pit · ground

  1. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. pit — in a race
  3. chip — for betting
  4. can — to be able to
  5. ground — a position
  6. cue — a hint
  7. drill — the tool
  8. can — a tin
  9. can — a tin
  10. pit — a fruit stone
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. drill — army training
  14. dip — to sink
  15. chip — to eat
  16. rush — hurry
  17. pit — a hole
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. dip — a sauce
  20. drill — a practice
  21. ground — crushed
  22. cue — a signal
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. cue — for pool

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