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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
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: root · coach · kid · fan · can · foot · pop · chip

  1. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  16. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. pop — to visit
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. root — of a plant
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. can — a tin
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. root — the cause
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. kid — to tease
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. root — of a word
  16. kid — child
  17. can — to be able to
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. pop — soda
  21. foot — a measure
  22. can — a tin
  23. chip — to eat
  24. pop — music

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