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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: club · chip · dip · season · mine · mouse · suit · sharp

  1. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. dip — to sink
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. sharp — clever
  6. season — in sport
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. club — a group
  12. chip — for betting
  13. club — for golf
  14. club — for dancing
  15. suit — clothes
  16. season — of the year
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. suit — in cards
  21. suit — to fit
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mine — for digging
  24. chip — to eat

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