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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: squash · chip · bear · jam · swing · can · hand · branch

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. David sat on the ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  15. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  16. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  17. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  24. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. swing — music
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. bear — the animal
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. swing — to play on
  8. can — a tin
  9. hand — in cards
  10. hand — help
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. swing — in golf
  15. bear — the animal
  16. branch — a division
  17. jam — in traffic
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. can — a tin
  20. chip — to eat
  21. squash — the vegetable
  22. can — to be able to
  23. squash — the sport
  24. squash — to crush

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