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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: chip · present · net · arm · mark · spring · suit · craft

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  11. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. chip — for betting
  3. net — for catching
  4. present — there
  5. spring — of water
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. suit — clothes
  8. net — after costs
  9. net — in sport
  10. craft — boats
  11. chip — in a computer
  12. present — a gift
  13. mark — a grade
  14. spring — a coil
  15. suit — to fit
  16. craft — a handicraft
  17. suit — in cards
  18. spring — the season
  19. craft — a skill
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. mark — a trace
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. chip — to eat
  24. mark — to pay attention

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