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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: pit · board · lie · ground · deal · charge · rush · chip

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. There's no middle ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  21. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  22. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. chip — for betting
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. ground — the earth
  5. charge — a price
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. charge — electricity
  8. lie — to recline
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. deal — to handle
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. charge — in control
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. ground — a position
  17. rush — hurry
  18. pit — in a race
  19. board — to get on
  20. board — a flat piece
  21. chip — to eat
  22. ground — crushed
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. pit — a hole

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