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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.

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: row · mug · track · patient · lash · dip · chip · board

  1. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  7. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  12. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — in a computer
  2. track — a path
  3. chip — for betting
  4. mug — a face
  5. dip — to sink
  6. chip — to eat
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. board — to get on
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. mug — a cup
  11. patient — a sick person
  12. row — a quarrel
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. track — to keep track
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. track — a song
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. mug — to rob
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. board — a committee
  22. row — to paddle
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. row — a line

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