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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
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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: chip · dip · wound · wave · racket · temple · fan · band

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  4. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. When was this ________________ built?
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  11. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. wave — with your hand
  4. band — a rubber band
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. chip — to eat
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. band — a music group
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. wound — past of 'wind'
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. chip — in a computer
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. wound — an injury
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. temple — a place of worship
  19. band — a ring
  20. temple — side of the head
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. dip — to sink
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. wound — an injury

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